Advocate Now: Oregon’s Proposed Changes to HRSN Eligibility

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has proposed changes to the Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) program that supports people with serious health needs. Specifically, OHA is proposing to remove Developmental Disability as an eligible clinical risk factor for Rent and Utility support through the HRSN program. This means that benefits for Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including support for paying rent and utilities, would be limited, starting 1/1/2026.

What is Oregon’s HRSN Program?

Oregon’s HRSN program is a benefit that helps eligible OHP members with social, environmental, and economic supports—including help with rent, utilities, food, and cooling or heating devices like an air conditioner or space heater—that affect health. The goal of this program is to help members maintain their overall health.

How Would the Proposed Change to HRSN Impact People with I/DD?

The new rules could make it harder for people with long-term disabilities or chronic health conditions to qualify for help, especially if they are able to manage their condition and stay healthy without going to the hospital or needing a lot of medical care.

People with I/DD or those who need help with daily tasks (like bathing, eating, or getting dressed) might no longer qualify under the new rules if they haven’t been hospitalized or received intense medical treatment in the past year.

This group is already at higher risk of becoming homeless. If they lose their housing, their health could get much worse, and they could face a greater chance of being abused or taken advantage of.

To learn more about these proposed changes, view and download the Planned Narrowing of Clinical Eligibility for HRSN Rent and Utility Services presentation (PowerPoint) from OHA. (Documento traducido al español en las páginas 7-12.)

How to Advocate

Write a public comment to encourage OHA to keep "developmental disability needs" and "needs assistance with ADLs or eligible for LTSS" as standalone criteria for Rent/Utility Financial Assistance.

Submit your public comment to OHA by emailing medicaid.rules@oha.oregon.gov by October 21st at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

Public Comment Template

You may copy and paste the letter written below to help you submit a public comment. Or download the letter as a Word document. To make it more personal to you, add a sentence or two about why this topic matters to you. For example, “I work in the developmental disability field,” or “I am an individual with a developmental disability,” or “I have a family member who has a developmental disability.”

[Today’s Date]

Hello,

I’m writing today to leave a public comment about proposed changes to the Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) program. I’m very concerned about how the proposed changes could hurt the people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (/DD). Currently, "Developmental Disability Need" is a standalone clinical risk factor for Rent and Utility Financial Assistance. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is proposing to remove Developmental Disability as an eligible clinical risk factor for Rent and Utility support through the HRSN program.

This change would create higher barriers for individuals with stable developmental disabilities or chronic functional limitations who may manage their conditions without frequent intensive medical interventions. This means individuals with a developmental disability or those needing assistance with ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) may not meet the new eligibility definitions if they haven’t been hospitalized or had intensive outpatient services in the last year. This population is highly vulnerable, more likely to experience homelessness, and, when homeless, are at a much higher risk of abuse and exploitation. Their health would be significantly impacted if they were to lose their housing, even if their condition is currently managed. These stabilizing supports are critical for this population.

We strongly urge the OHA to keep "developmental disability needs" and "needs assistance with ADLs or eligible for LTSS" as standalone criteria for Rent/Utility Financial Assistance.

Sincerely,

[Your First and Last Name]