Overview
Oregon’s behavioral health care workforce has long needed bolstering. COVID-19’s impact on the health care workforce throughout the country exacerbated the existing problem in Oregon. To address the behavioral health care workforce shortage, the Oregon legislature passed
House Bill (HB) 4004, which requires Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to distribute grants to behavioral health care providers for staff compensation and workforce retention and recruitment.
Providers must use at least 75 percent of the grant funding for wages, benefits, bonuses and incentives to hire new staff, or retain existing staff.
Providers are responsible for reporting to OHA on grant spending and the resulting workforce improvements. The legislation also directs OHA to continue its program of providing nurses and behavioral health specialists to bolster shortages in provider workforces, resulting from the pandemic and to seek federal funding for that effort.
Who Is Eligible?
- Mental health or substance use disorder crisis line providers; or
- Urban Indian Health Programs in Oregon; or
- Tribal Behavioral Health Program grant recipients in Oregon; or
- Behavioral health care providers (services and supports for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders) that meet the following criteria:
- Serve adults or youth, at least 50% of whom are uninsured, enrolled in the state medical assistance program (Medicaid), or enrolled in Medicare
- Are not hospitals; and
- And qualify as one or more of the following:
- Certified by OHA to provide behavioral health care
- Provides behavioral health care through program contracting with or administered by the Oregon Youth Authority
- Provides behavioral health rehabilitation services through a program contracting with or administered by the Department of Human Services
- Licensed opioid treatment program
- Provides withdrawal management services; or
- Is a sobering center
Read the full Request for Application
Solicitud de Subvención para la estabilidad de la fuerza laboral del Proyecto de Ley 4004
Frequently asked questions about the application
Preguntas frecuentes sobre la Solicitud
How to Apply:
Applicants must
submit a completed application by 5 p.m. May 4, 2022.
Applicants must also provide the following:
- Attestation by an authorized representative that: (1) the applicant is an eligible applicant and the basis for such eligibility; (2) the applicant has reviewed, understands, and acknowledges the terms and conditions of receiving grant funds under HB 4004 as described in this application and the applicant agrees to comply with all terms and conditions; and (3) all information provided to OHA in connection with this application is true and correct, and the applicant agrees to notify OHA immediately in writing if the applicant becomes aware that any such information is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Total staffing costs (gross pay) for Oregon operations, including benefits, for one month. (Please do not include independent contractors who are not employees, such as consultants or contract nurse/providers.)
- Include filled and vacant positions, including but not limited to the staffing categories below.
- Executive Management
- Physicians/Psychiatrists
- Management (program managers, supervisors, leads)
- Clinical/Medical staff
- Non-clinical staff (including peers, billing, maintenance, environmental services, administrative support)
- A description of any programs or other non-compensatory means to increase workforce retention or recruitment that the provider proposes to support with the grant and how such programs or other non-compensatory means are designed to increase workforce retention or recruitment.
Grant recipients are encouraged by OHA to develop and set in motion innovative recruitment and retention strategies that serve to increase staff diversity and cultural responsiveness and expedite filling open positions. A one-page summary of the provider’s recruitment and retention strategies will be required as part of the Interim Incentive Distribution Report due on Aug. 1, 2022.
How the Funds Are Used
Providers must use at least 75 percent of the grant funding on direct compensation to staff through wages, benefits, and bonuses. The remaining funds can be spent on programs or other non-compensatory resources to increase workforce retention or recruitment. All filled and vacant positions at qualified behavioral health providers qualify for wage increases, retention, and signing bonuses.
Grant recipients must use the funds by Dec. 30, 2022.
Any portion of a grant that is not spent as provided in this application and in Section 1 of HB 4004, which is incorporated into this application, constitutes an overpayment that OHA may recover from a provider.