Oregon Youth Respite Care Shrinks as Medicaid Funding Lags
Oregon lacks statewide funding for youth behavioral health respite care and is one of only two states that does not mandate Medicaid coverage of the service, leaving decisions to regional Medicaid networks known as coordinated care organizations. One Southern Oregon provider, Interval House, closed last year after Jackson Care Connect scaled back funding, citing low utilization, leaving only one overnight respite provider across a three-hour stretch of the state. Families of children with complex behavioral health needs, like a Eugene mother whose son is on an intellectual/developmental disability Medicaid plan, struggle to access the limited "relief" benefits that do exist. State officials are exploring a Medicaid coverage mandate for respite, but regional networks say rising costs and anticipated federal Medicaid funding cuts will strain their ability to pay for it regardless.