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Deschutes County accepts OHA housing grant to set up Medicaid rental-assistance pass-through
Summary
The Board approved accepting an Oregon Health Authority grant that will fund staffing and administration to invoice the state for rental assistance for certain Medicaid members; the funding itself is paid to clients through the County as a pass-through.
Deschutes County commissioners voted to accept a grant from the Oregon Health Authority to support delivery of “health related social needs” housing services, approving county chair signature on document number 2025-016.
The grant, described by county staff as infrastructure funding, provides $241,624 for a new staff position to administer the program and approximately $62,700 to cover psychiatric provider care; it does not itself contain the rental or utility payments residents would receive. "The funding is to support infrastructure. So we can invoice the state for actual rental assistance payments," Kara Cronin, intensive adult services program manager with the county Health Services Division, told the board. "This is infrastructure for people to support community members in accessing this funding."
Why it matters: commissioners raised concerns that community members in immediate need — people needing move-in deposits, short-term rental or utility help — may not see direct, immediate dollars unless they meet the program eligibility criteria. County staff said the program will act as a pass-through: the county administers payments and invoices the state or coordinating organization for reimbursement.
How it will work: Cronin said the grant covers the administrative capacity to enroll clients and process payments. The assistance is Medicaid-funded and will be available to members of certain coordinated care organizations: PacificSource members and people with the Oregon Health Plan (referred to in discussion as "Open Card") will be eligible through the county and partner providers. Cronin said other providers such as Mosaic Medical will also administer pathways for eligible people.
Board action and next steps: Commissioner motion and second carried unanimously. The board approved the chair signing the grant acceptance document so the county can begin hiring the administrator and set up invoicing and payment processes.
Context and limitations: County staff and commissioners repeatedly noted that the $350,000 figure discussed in the packet was not the amount available for direct rental assistance; rather, it is the pool for administrative and support functions that enable invoicing for actual assistance payments. Staff emphasized that the funding is Medicaid-restricted and therefore limited to Medicaid-eligible individuals represented by the specified coordinated care organizations.
The board did not adopt additional eligibility changes and did not identify a timeline in the meeting for first client payments.
