TL;DR (generated · confidence: high)

PSR and CHAT require stable funding to maintain operations and expand capacity. The memo recommends four funding strategies: ongoing General Fund allocations for core staffing; Medicaid reimbursement through partnerships with OHA and CCOs; leveraging Opioid Settlement and Cannabis Tax funds for addiction interventions; and pursuing federal/state grants and philanthropic partnerships with organizations like Central City Concern and CareOregon.

Key points (each cites a PDF page):

General Fund support needed to maintain current staffing levels and ensure continuity of PSR and CHAT critical services, prioritizing leadership, supervision, and field staff. (p. 1128)
City should collaborate with Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to establish Medicaid billing framework for PSR and CHAT services. (p. 1128)
Despite two years of ongoing discussions between City and OHA, clear guidance on reimbursement pathways for PSR and CHAT services has not yet been established. (p. 1128)
Leverage City's share of Oregon's Opioid Settlement Funds to support addiction-focused interventions within PSR and CHAT. (p. 1128)
Council could commit ongoing General Fund resources for positions, then replace those funds annually with onetime Opioid Settlement resources to provide stable funding and preserve Council options. (p. 1128)
Expand CHAT's role in addressing substance use-related incidents through targeted education, treatment, and follow-up services. (p. 1128)
Pursue federal, state, and philanthropic grants for innovative crisis response models; however, no large-scale grant opportunities have yet been found despite ongoing efforts. (p. 1128)
Strengthen partnerships with Central City Concern and CareOregon to co-fund initiatives aligned with mutual goals, using CareOregon as a model to navigate billing for pre-hospital care services. (p. 1128)

📋 Portland Street Response (PSR) · Community Health Assess and Treat (CHAT) · 🏛️ Oregon Health Authority (OHA) · Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) · Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) · Central City Concern

Funding Sustainability

Source: PDF p. 1128 · raw: 1128

Breadcrumb: 5 ps › PSR-and-CHAT-2025-Budget-Note-Memo › Response memo to FY2025 Budget Note: Direction to Develop Programmatic Mission, Scope, and Staffing Model for Portland Street Response & Community Health Assess and Treat › PROPOSAL & RECOMMENDATIONS › Funding Sustainability

As demand for these critical services continues to grow, stable funding, workforce resilience, and operational enhancements are essential to maintaining program continuity and expanding capacity. Without these investments, the challenges PSR and CHAT address will not disappear; instead, the burden will shift back to police, fire, and emergency departments at a higher financial and social cost. The following recommendations focus on securing sustainable funding, strengthening workforce capacity, and optimizing program delivery to ensure that PSR and CHAT can meet increasing demands and continue providing critical services to Portlanders in need. FUNDING S USTAINABILITY To achieve long-term financial stability, a stable funding strategy is essential to guard against future shocks. This includes:

General Fund Support a) Ongoing General Fund allocation is needed to maintain current staffing levels for PSR and CHAT, ensuring continuity of critical services. b) Prioritize funding for core operations, including leadership, supervision, and field staff.
Medicaid Reimbursement a) Collaborate with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to establish a 2 Medicaid billing framework for services provided by PSR and CHAT. b) Determine the codes/responses that could possibly be billable. c) Utilize partnerships such as with CareOregon as a model to navigate billing for pre- hospital care services and expand covered activities.
Opioid Settlement and Cannabis Tax Funds a) Leverage the City’s share of Oregon's allocation of Opioid Settlement Funds to support addiction-focused interventions within PSR and CHAT. b) Council could commit Ongoing General Fund resources, then replace those funds annually with onetime resources from the Opioid Settlement, it could provide authority for ongoing positions, provide stable funding, and preserve options for Council. c) Expand CHAT’s role in addressing substance use-related incidents through targeted education, treatment, and follow-up services.
Grants and Partnerships a) Pursue federal, state, and philanthropic grants for innovative crisis response models 3 and community-based health initiatives . b) Strengthen partnerships with organizations like Central City Concern and CareOregon to co-fund initiatives aligned with mutual goals. 2 Securing Medicaid reimbursement remains a challenge. Despite two years of ongoing discussions between the City and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which oversees Medicaid administration in Oregon, clear guidance on pathways for reimbursing the services provided by PSR and CHAT has not yet been established. 3 Efforts to identify grant funding resources have already begun, and while they continue, no large- scale opportunities have yet been found.

Parent: PROPOSAL & RECOMMENDATIONS · PDF: p. 1128