The impact of oregon health plan cuts on substance abuse treatment

This chapter describes cutbacks in the Oregon Health Plan and the effects of those Medicaid reductions at three distinct levels: individuals' access to substance abuse treatment, the substance abuse delivery system in Oregon, and Oregon's emergency departments. Data from several studies are examined to describe the impacts of major changes to the Oregon Health Plan's Standard (Medicaid expansion) program in early 2003 - particularly the increased cost sharing measures and coverage reduction including outpatient mental health and chemical dependency benefit cutbacks. The preponderance of evidence from these studies suggests that the impacts of program changes were felt profoundly by the individuals enrolled in OHP, by the clinics and treatment centers that form Oregon's substance abuse care delivery system, and in Oregon's emergency departments.