Oregon s New Rental Assistance Program Aims to Address Housing and Food Insecurity for Medicaid and Medicare Recipients

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people in Oregon who rely on Medicaid and Medicare faced serious struggles with housing and food insecurity, despite efforts to help, such as eviction bans and extra food support.

A study led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University OHSU, published in Annals of Family Medicine, showed that from March 2020 through 2021, the basic needs of Oregonians were in crisis. The study focused on how access to housing and food impacts people’s health and overall well-being.

The Oregon Health Authority recently started a new program to help people on Medicaid pay their rent when medical issues make it hard for them to afford it.

The Oregon Health Authority recently started a new program to help people on Medicaid pay their rent when medical issues make it hard for them to afford it.

The study followed around 21,000 people receiving Medicare or Medicaid benefits, tracking their situation from 2019 through the end of 2021. Researchers found that by March 2020, housing and food insecurity increased by nearly 18%. This rise in basic needs continued through the end of 2021.

In Oregon, over 1.4 million residents use the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid), and more than 930,000 people rely on Medicare. The study was part of a larger national survey covering 1.1 million people, which found that when people’s basic needs were met during healthcare visits, they were healthier overall.

This shows that taking care of social needs like food and housing can lead to better health and lower healthcare costs.

The study began in 2019, just before the pandemic hit, and researchers worked with 50 clinics across Oregon, reaching both urban and rural communities. Even with government support programs, the need for help with food and housing kept rising.

Oregon’s new rental assistance program, part of a Medicaid plan approved by the federal government, is designed to support those in need. The state has nearly $1 billion available for this program, which can also help with food, air conditioning, and air filters. Most of this funding comes from the federal government, with a smaller amount from the state.

Researchers believe that addressing social needs as part of healthcare can significantly improve a patient’s health. Oregon’s new rental assistance program is seen as a positive step in the right direction.

This program covers up to six months of rent and utility payments, including past-due amounts, and offers home improvements for health needs, like wheelchair ramps and pest control.

Overall, Oregon is leading the way in recognizing how important stable housing is to good healthcare, and the study encourages further research to find the best ways to address these needs.