Oregon Health Authority requests major funding increase

EUGENE – The Oregon Health Authority is requesting a more than 50 percent increase in its state funding next year as sources of federal funding dry up.

The Register-Guard reports (http://bit.ly/2bTvrpM ) that the health authority is asking for $3.33 billion from the 2017-19 general fund, up from the $2.14 billion it was given in the last budget cycle.

The large budget request is meant to cover costs when two major federal funding sources end next year.

The authority administers most of Oregon’s government-funded health programs, including Medicaid, the Oregon State Hospital, psychiatric and drug treatment programs and the public health division.