Behavioral health providers say Oregon Health Authority rule puts patients at risk

Health and Fitness
Source : (remove) : OPB
^{RSS •
JSON •
XML •
CSV}

Thu, May 15, 2025

[ Thu, May 15th ] - OPB

Behavioral health providers say Oregon Health Authority rule puts patients at risk

_{//health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. health-authority-rule-puts-patients-at-risk.html}
^{Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, May 15th 2025 at 17:02 GMT by OPB}

When someone accused of a crime is found unable to aid and assist in their own defense, they are sent to the Oregon State Hospital for an evaluation. After that, they often need to spend time at a residential treatment center until they are fit to stand trial. A new rule from the Oregon Health Authority requires residential treatment facilities in the state to accept those patients ahead of any who might be on their waiting list, setting aside their normal admissions standards. Attorneys for the Oregon Council for Behavioral six residential treatment providers filed a petition with the Oregon Court of Appeals to block that rule. We hear from Heather Jefferis, executive director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral , about the challenges faced by behavioral providers in Oregon.

Behavioral health providers in Oregon are expressing concerns over a new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) rule that they believe puts patients at risk by limiting access to care. The rule, which went into effect on May 1, requires providers to obtain prior authorization before delivering services to patients covered by the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), the state's Medicaid program. Providers argue that this requirement creates unnecessary delays in treatment, particularly for those in urgent need of mental health and substance abuse services. They fear that the added bureaucratic step could deter patients from seeking help and exacerbate the existing shortage of behavioral health professionals. The OHA maintains that the rule is necessary to ensure the appropriate use of taxpayer-funded services and to prevent fraud, but providers are calling for its immediate repeal or modification to better serve the needs of vulnerable populations.

Read the Full OPB Article at:
[ https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/15/behavioral-health-providers-say-oregon-health-authority-rule-puts-patients-at-risk/ ]

Publication Contributing Sources