Health related social needs: Community capacity building funding

As part of the state’s recent Oregon Health Plan 1115 waiver, Oregon was approved to offer nutrition services, housing supports, and climate devices to Oregon Health Plan (OHP, or Medicaid) members experiencing a qualifying life transition.

This support, called the Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) benefit, will help vulnerable populations access resources to stay healthy during and after life transitions. The HRSN benefit will be phased in over the timeline below:

• Medically necessary climate devices available March 2024
• Housing services for individuals who are at risk of homeless available November 2024
• Nutrition services available January 2025
• Housing benefits will continue to roll out for additional OHP members throughout 2025

Implementing the HRSN benefit will provide new opportunities for Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) to partner, coordinate care, identify needs, and track access to climate, housing and nutrition services. Community-based organizations, social service agencies, and housing and food providers will play an important role in delivering services to eligible OHP members. You can read more about this benefit on our Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) page.

As part of this initiative, funding will be available statewide to support organizations that are interested in becoming HRSN providers. Oregon Health Authority will be distributing this funding regionally to the CCOs, and the CCOs will be responsible for reviewing applications, awarding funding, and monitoring use of the funds. This funding will allow Jackson Care Connect to offer grants to organizations to build the necessary capabilities and capacity to provide climate, housing, and nutrition services as a Medicaid health benefit. Funding will be available to support investment and activities in four categories:

• Technology
• Development of Business or Operational Practices
• Workforce development
• Outreach, education, and convening

Jackson Care Connect will be accepting applications for the Community Capacity Building Funding from March 1 – May 31, 2024 through the ZoomGrants link below. The ZoomGrants application includes three parts: a ZoomGrants form, Additional Application Questions attachment, and Budget Request spreadsheet. Templates for the budget and additional application questions are available in the Documents section of Zoom Grants. Applications will be evaluated using the criteria included in OHA’s scoring rubric.

Jackson Care Connect will be hosting an information session to review the HRSN benefit, HRSN Service Provider requirements and responsibilities, and Community Capacity Building Funding. Register for the session here.

• Wednesday, April 24^th from 1-2 p.m.
  

Jackson Care Connect will be hosting office hour sessions on the following dates to provide support and answer questions about the HRSN benefit, Community Capacity Building Funding, and application process. Register here to attend office hours.

• Wednesday, May 15^th from 9-10 a.m.
• Friday, May 17^th from 1-2 p.m.

If you have any questions or comments about the Community Capacity Building Funding process or need assistance with completing the application, please reach out to us at jccsocialneeds@careoregon.org. More information about the funding opportunity is available at the links below:

• OHA’s Community Capacity Building Funding webpage
• Community Capacity Building Funding overview webinar
• Three-part webinar series about the HRSN benefit (HRSN Overview, Benefit Review, HRSN Provider Expectations)
• HRSN Service Protocols with information about benefit administration