Senate hearing on SB 909 highlights families— plea to expand Medicaid home‑and‑community supports for children with serious emotional disturbance

Senate Bill 909 drew emotional testimony and detailed policy discussion in a public hearing before the Senate Committee on Human Services on Feb. 27 as families and advocates urged immediate action to expand home‑and‑community‑based services for children with serious emotional disturbances.

Chair Gelser Blue opened the public hearing and summarized the bill—s aims before a series of proponents. Committee staff Matt described SB 909 as a bill that “expands access to home and community based services for individuals who are 21 with serious emotional disturbance,” said it would “expand eligibility for medical assistance regardless of family income to individuals 18 under certain conditions,” and requires the Oregon Health Authority to develop level‑of‑care criteria for admission to psychiatric facilities and to provide HCBS as alternatives to institutional placement.

Several parents and advocates testified about systemic gaps. Jessa Reinhardt, identifying herself as “a mother … and an amazing advocate,” said families have waited more than a decade for services and argued the state already has evidence to act. “For 12 years youth with serious emotional disturbances have been completely forgotten,” Reinhardt said, adding that earlier policy steps left children with mental health needs behind peers with developmental disabilities. She urged the legislature to “disregard parental income to ensure all disabled children have access to the home and community based services that they are entitled to.”

Callie Ross, speaking for Advocates for Disability Supports, described SB 909 as “the critical next step,” saying the bill would set firm deadlines for waiver applications and allow schools to draw down federal Medicaid funds for eligible services, including nursing and personal care in schools. Ross cited national studies on HCBS cost‑effectiveness and argued the approach “keeps [children] in their communities rather than forcing them to board in emergency rooms or spend extended periods in inpatient care.”

Andrew (Andy) Herndon, who testified as a parent and social‑media advocate, recounted intense personal experience with the state system. He described weekly 276‑mile one‑way trips the family made to a residential treatment center in Portland and said local crisis responses were unreliable at night. “We cannot wait,” Herndon said. “This bill is not just policy. It represents a lifeline for families like mine.”

Committee members asked technical and implementation questions. A senator and clinicians on the panel queried how SB 909 would define level‑of‑care criteria for psychiatric admission and how existing Medicaid authorities would be used; Chair Gelser Blue explained the bill seeks a date‑certain process to identify the tool or criteria so the state plan can permit HCBS alternatives, similar to how services were added through the K plan in 2013 for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The chair emphasized the bill—s intent to braid multiple Medicaid authorities so high‑need children do not fall between child and adult service definitions.

Witnesses and the chair described families— repeated contacts with agencies and the emotional toll of crises. Jessa Reinhardt said state contracting and delayed implementation have “stonewalled” families seeking updates. Chair Gelser Blue recounted a longstanding listening tour and a case in which a young person who had been in contact with the system later died, using the example to underline urgency.

No formal committee vote was taken; the chair closed the public hearing and said the bill would proceed to further committee work and then to Ways and Means for fiscal review. Committee members indicated a work session will be scheduled and amendments are expected to adjust implementation timelines and coordination with federal authorities.

Ending: Proponents asked the legislature to move quickly; the committee closed the SB 909 public hearing and signaled additional work and fiscal review would follow.