[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6493550,"mediaKeyId","5550619-e81be35eb3a0b95adfb15dbb0205da94","parentId",5550619,"title","County health staff warn federal 'OBA/HR1' provisions could sharply reshape Medicaid, SNAP and health-center grants","audioSeconds",3281,"startMs",2643000,"endMs",5924000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550619-e81be35eb3a0b95adfb15dbb0205da94&start=2643&end=5924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550619-e81be35eb3a0b95adfb15dbb0205da94/thumbnail_2643000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6493550/Benton-County/Oregon/County-health-staff-warn-federal-OBAHR1-provisions-could-sharply-reshape-Medicaid-SNAP-and-health-center-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493550-00f67090929c858541b6e332c4f517f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393018&Signature=Y0BaeBrG8CpHWDibTf-2my0WVn2fa3l9YLJYdmnluQ5F9UUNmsaf6GJjZFnLwX9~c6XmUxy-kmrfmVFQ3Syh7yXyORX0PTBO787gFZJNu5h2tUu~YIB~kie13hfFXJoStcALR4pvoA~KcWSogykW3DXK-dXoN2mxp0EWB0moYGUIrkG5HEQHA9B0DnxYew-zZoiuPfnNA5Bs-figBXaRGjx6oL92NHM41HNYzYHPnYoXUfKw9vyMX9F8S986woeUN-zQAy5yVRGNpCQ6DTFsPjmRBkL1hyV6zMjnFVKqSQUAqSBRGLvZPVMsPSdFEuZLv1yLivvHhDy6pEiwJndK5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Benton County, OR","date","2025-08-07T19:14:46Z","article","At the Aug. 1 briefing, health services staff gave a detailed presentation on the federal legislative and administrative changes commonly referred to in the meeting as OBA/HR1 (presenters also used the acronym \"OBA\"). Staff described multiple provisions that could reduce federal funding or change program eligibility and implementation for SNAP, Medicaid and federal health grants over the coming years.

Presenters said the new federal package contains tightened eligibility rules for certain noncitizens, changes to Medicaid financing and provider-tax rules, and a six-month extension or transition period in some cases while states and providers prepare to implement new domains and verification systems. Staff described the bill as containing many changes that will shift costs and verification burdens from the federal government to states and individuals.

Key items staff highlighted included:

- SNAP changes: Reinstatement of able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements in some counties and a stated federal requirement that states pay a larger share of SNAP administration (from 50% to 75% for certain costs beginning in 2026). Staff said some counties with college-age populations are implementing ABAWD earlier because discretionary exemptions are fewer.

- Medicaid impacts: A reported total reduction to Medicaid funding in the hundreds of millions to billions at the state level under the new law, potential limits on coverage of gender-affirming care as an essential health benefit, new emergency Medicaid reimbursement limits and proposed work/verification requirements that states may seek waivers to postpone until 2027.

- Immigration-era eligibility: Staff explained the bill narrows \"federal public benefits\" eligibility for many noncitizen categories (for example, excluding DACA recipients, H-1B and student visa holders from some programs under the new interpretation). They noted a public-comment period and ongoing litigation and said Oregon and other states have sought injunctions.

- Grant and terms-and-conditions changes: Staff reported updated federal grant terms and conditions (including new language tied to 2 CFR Part 200 uniform guidance and stronger False Claims Act reminders), proposed restrictions or new attestation language about DEI activities in grants, and temporary redactions/edits in HHS/HRSA guidance under review.

- Data sharing and privacy: Presenters said CMS and other agencies have initiated agreements that could expand data sharing between CMS and immigration authorities; they said Oregon and advocacy groups are pursuing legal action or seeking to limit such data flows.

- Other administrative actions: Staff flagged an executive order on homelessness and mental health, changes to the US Preventive Services Task Force membership, and the creation of a rural health-transformation grant program that requires state work plans by year-end for eligibility.

Staff asked commissioners to consider sending public comments (a template had been circulated) to federal agencies during the open comment period on proposed interpretations of \"federal public benefits,\" and commissioners agreed to review the draft before deciding whether to add the item to the next meeting agenda.

Staff repeatedly emphasized uncertainty: many of the described changes depend on subsequent federal rulemaking, agency guidance, litigation outcomes and state-level waiver requests. They urged local partners to track timelines (public comment deadlines, state application deadlines and phased implementation dates) and to coordinate with statewide associations and AOC for advocacy and legal support.

\"This is definitely a continuation of the first-term tax cuts and spending,\" a presenter said. \"Our partners really call this, death by a thousand cuts at this point.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Department Head Meeting: Board of Commissioners, Health Services, and Community Health Centers","oneSentenceSummary","At an Aug. 1 Benton County briefing, health services staff summarized how a recently passed federal package (referred to in the meeting as OBA/HR1) could change Medicaid, SNAP, eligibility for noncitizens and federal grant terms and asked commissioners to consider submitting public comments during open-rule periods.","taxTitle","Benton County, Oregon","taxId",8787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6493557,"Benton County community health centers report HRSA visit, PPS rate approval and Monroe Clinic funding gap",695,1465000,2160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550619-e81be35eb3a0b95adfb15dbb0205da94&start=1465&end=2160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550619-e81be35eb3a0b95adfb15dbb0205da94/thumbnail_1465000.jpg","/articles/6493557/Benton-County/Oregon/Benton-County-community-health-centers-report-HRSA-visit-PPS-rate-approval-and-Monroe-Clinic-funding-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493557-b1ce86c0f3613c615878b4db727a6452/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393018&Signature=Ll5783WWqd1qxr7zXAiw7CBrqrwG7yQZYU9WdZfP~R1RX8kk8YmcM35JQxPevmWpBOmFGAls2fMgq7EskiNld1GkNJkgGxen5YtEZcWntP-5Dgg-LR~jAy7iFRQQzEDO8AwTXUAQ4rqfWCdj1c3B7mWD79ZzMLacsFQaWSi~Z09nPE0bPBIa0uBIyXmWbg-IiNzwx15UfVJKsSRTvn9jHBEcsaX6gOWFgrUdr9bW651OCllx45ECoGIvqBoVwwvdMy4Nh4kSyP~oF8p~jFf1bLs6hpNaihaGaqDTshSyUr4x5v7wnbbJ0knhMYI3Xh9E0Xa05mb0jhbm~bn~7J7EsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the same briefing, county community health center staff summarized operations, staffing and capital projects and reported a formal HRSA operational site visit is scheduled for Sept. 11.

Health center staff said Benton County'operated clinics reached Patient-Centered Primary Care Home (PCPCH) tier 5 status for multiple sites, and the Health Services Building and Lincoln Health Center also received the state's new health-equity designation after meeting criteria related to access, language services and equity-driven data collection. Staff described tier 5 as reflecting coordinated interdisciplinary care teams and documentation practices.

Christine Mosebaugh was introduced as the interim primary care division director (work-out-of-class), effective in August. Staff also reported that Ahmed Zabari, the prior health finance officer, resigned in June; Debbie Sessions is serving as interim health finance officer while the county initiates recruitment.

The health center hired a new dentist, Dr. Tara Bobble, who began in June, and staff said they are onboarding additional clinic personnel to expand capacity.

On capital projects, staff said they completed NEPA and environmental surveys for the Monroe Health Center and have selected an architecture firm (Clark Cojos) after an RFP process. They said the Monroe Clinic project total is approximately $3,000,000 and reported a remaining funding gap of about $750,000. Staff said they are pursuing federal funding possibilities, including an outstanding request to Senator Jeff Merkley's office and potential conversations with IHN about capital support; they also said the county is in a position to fund the gap internally if external funds are not secured.

Staff reported they received final state approval of a new PPS (Prospective Payment System) rate after an 18-month effort and that the health centers ended the fiscal year with a positive ending balance \"for the first time in nearly a decade,\" pending final close of the books.

Commissioners asked questions about HRSA site-visit staffing and whether HRSA reviewers are federal staff or technical consultants; staff said the visit will include Bureau of Primary Health Care staff and contractual technical consultants who regularly perform site reviews.

Staff asked commissioners to consider signing a public comment template on proposed federal rule changes affecting community health centers (see separate briefing on federal legislation). Commissioners asked to see the draft before any letter is submitted and agreed to consider adding the item to the next meeting agenda for approval.","County health center leaders told commissioners they received final PPS rate approval, posted strong clinic attestation results, completed NEPA and an RFP for Monroe Clinic architecture, and still face an estimated $750,000 capital gap for the Monroe Clinic project.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6493561,"Benton County health leadership: crisis center open but behavioral health funding remains uncertain",605,83000,688000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550619-e81be35eb3a0b95adfb15dbb0205da94&start=83&end=688","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550619-e81be35eb3a0b95adfb15dbb0205da94/thumbnail_83000.jpg","/articles/6493561/Benton-County/Oregon/Benton-County-health-leadership-crisis-center-open-but-behavioral-health-funding-remains-uncertain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6493561-297d6adf0b22abe1af64d1f2008532fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775393018&Signature=dD3Byfa9uCsRt5U2LNR2Ce9J~J9CZacdXt8zhebfSIuZDMqdy6T1JNzRE8mEIXZF35ZyyFrcoicpMa7~zS5qhn3AEapuBbmVZif3X51wEVJoQ6nFRUXexVgbPr6OXfR8DQmeE~CRnNeCssOWqxgxAphMZELfqnAXSgqCEWQwiXtPqg2KtXi-2REBV2fuJx1pIVGVcjx-JQ5NGVr2tpa948~eZB0QGllkeh-9mGqKahKtriQVGHSPOIr1AruNKsoiExH7Y99qjTr5F7pRIHUfqreTsK6eA2l-lDXhHSDxydGjgcsF6yj6VOevVju-E8KmC9STlJouDKyrQvCaxs2OJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Benton County health services briefing on Aug. 1, Health Department Director April Holland said the county'operated crisis center is open and staffed and the department is preparing for changes to statewide behavioral health funding rules while awaiting further guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.

Holland said the Barbara Ross Building (40185 Southwest Research Way) and the new crisis center both held grand-opening events this summer, and that the county'led crisis operations are now \"business as usual.\" She introduced the crisis program manager, Haley Clark, and said Clark \"is doing a great job\" while the county provides additional operational support through experienced staff including Ricky Garcia and Ashley Talamantes.

The update noted the county has an initial application with IHN and expects an initial award, but that the Office of Oregon Health Authority (OHA) rate-setting process and other new requirements mean the county will revisit that award in January. Holland said OHA provided a six-month extension of current financial terms while counties and providers draft plans to fit the new behavioral-health program domains; those plans and budgets are due even though some policy points remain unresolved.

\"It's an extension of the previous contract,\" Holland said, referring to the six-month continuation of existing service-element language while the state and local partners work through new domains and prioritization.

Holland described how rate modernization is intended to improve reimbursement for crisis services once new rates are set, but cautioned the county expects to use contingency funds to cover initial ramp-up and reimbursement lags as the crisis center increases capacity and onboards staff. She said the county is approaching that spending conservatively to avoid expanding services faster than revenue will sustain.

On homelessness coordination, Holland reported the county's flexible housing subsidy pool exceeded its goal of 51 households and has housed 53 households — described as \"well over a 100 individuals\" receiving ongoing support — and that county staff are negotiating contract language and creative grant use with Unity Shelter and state partners to close sheltering gaps.

Holland also said the health department's public health reaccreditation review is underway as a virtual site visit; a small number of county commissioners will be invited to brief exit reviewers.

The commissioners asked for clarification on which state offices are involved in the behavioral health contract changes; Holland said the OHA behavioral health division is the lead and that the governor's office has also been involved. She said the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) has been coordinating county-level responses and that most affected counties have so far refused to sign the new language.

The presentation closed with Holland saying behavioral health staff will assemble a plan and budget based on OHA's new domains and will return to the county with that draft. She emphasized the county will continue conservative implementation while monitoring OHA and CCO negotiations.

Votes at a glance

The meeting began with a short procedural vote to approve minutes for Oct. 3, Jan. 22 and April 21. A motion to approve was seconded and \"the motion passes unanimously,\" according to the public transcript; the transcript does not record individual named votes.","County health officials reported the new crisis center is open and staffed, flexible housing and shelter coordination exceeded goals, and the state'wide rework of behavioral health funding is paused under a six-month extension while county staff prepare a plan tied to new OHA domains.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County health staff warn federal 'OBA/HR1' provisions could sharply reshape Medicaid, SNAP and health-center grants

Benton County community health centers report HRSA visit, PPS rate approval and Monroe Clinic funding gap

Benton County health leadership: crisis center open but behavioral health funding remains uncertain