# 10.13.26 Board Briefing


**Body:** MultCoBoard
**Date:** October 14, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Healthcare, Regulatory Compliance


Multnomah County Board briefing on October 14, 2026, covered Medicaid home- and community-based services and implementation of federal HR1 changes to Medicaid and SNAP. State and county officials discussed coordinating Oregon’s 1915i and 1915K programs so people with severe mental illness and other support needs can access services without being redirected between siloed eligibility systems. The state and county are developing an interim, case-by-case process while working toward broader service coordination, with a 2027 target. Multnomah County described a behavioral-health navigator pilot that had offered navigation to 120 people and submitted 29 applications; officials noted that applications have often been rejected and that provider capacity and program rules remain obstacles. They also reported more than 500 licensed residential beds in the county, including an increase of over 100 this year. Officials said eligible services would not be capped by a set number of participants, though no specific funding allocation was presented.

The second briefing addressed HR1’s effects on benefit eligibility and administration, including six-month Medicaid renewals for many adults and work or activity requirements generally starting in 2027. State officials cited more than 38,000 Oregonians who had lost SNAP eligibility amid verification requirements and estimated that the state’s increased share of SNAP administrative costs could exceed $70 million. County staff estimated that the shorter renewal cycle could require up to 57 additional eligibility workers under a worst-case scenario; county health officials also highlighted more than 7,000 Healthy Oregon patients at elevated risk during coverage transitions. Commissioners emphasized coordinated, multilingual outreach, reducing documentation burdens, and ensuring adequate staff capacity. No procurement actions, contract awards, spending votes, or motions were identified; follow-up questions and coordination were requested.

**Source:** MultCoBoard