Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Cha

(305,137 posts)
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 07:08 AM Jul 2013

Huge News~ Obamacare Will Bring Insurance To Oregon's Homeless

snip//

When the Affordable Care Act goes into effect in January, most of Oregon’s homeless people will have health insurance. That means they’ll have access to drug and alcohol treatment, regular doctor visits and counseling.

Traci Manning, the director of the Portland Housing Bureau, says that will change things dramatically.

snip//

“Having health insurance will prevent some people from becoming homeless in the first place,” Manning says. “Because if you don’t have insurance and you have a serious health care crisis, and perhaps are already struggling to make ends meet, you suddenly have a lot of bills, maybe you start missing a lot of rent. You run through your savings and for some people right now, that may be the cause of their homelessness.”

Manning says that fact that homeless people will have insurance could also free up money for other things. “There is the opportunity for services that are currently provided directly by the public to be paid for directly through Medicaid. Now, quite frankly we don’t know what all of those are yet. That is something that is still being determined.”

snip//

“We’re very optimistic,” she says. “The city and county have made statements publicly about repurposing general fund dollars that will be relieved once people are covered by insurance and investing that in perhaps rent assistance, in housing vouchers and support services that aren’t covered by Medicaid.”

snip//

much more..
http://www.opb.org/news/article/health-reform-will-bring-insurance-to-oregons-homeless/

h/t http://theobamadiary.com/2013/07/29/news-of-the-day-10/

[font color=blue]THIS IS POSTED IN THE BOG[/font]

BOG

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Huge News~ Obamacare Will Bring Insurance To Oregon's Homeless (Original Post) Cha Jul 2013 OP
Imagine: human beings being treated like human beings rurallib Jul 2013 #1
I can, it's why I SMH every time I hear DU trashing Obamacare. tridim Jul 2013 #2
Thanks to you and the BOG! sheshe2 Jul 2013 #3
Oregon is so progressive.. I just love it, she! Cha Jul 2013 #4
It is really good news Cha~ sheshe2 Jul 2013 #5
Sleep patterns.. I wish Cha Jul 2013 #7
K & R SunSeeker Jul 2013 #6
I didn’t read the linked article; but … 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2013 #8
I don't see where it addresses "mental health" directly.. but, that's Cha Jul 2013 #9
Here ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2013 #10
Yay.. thank you for the link.. Cha Jul 2013 #11
Yep ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2013 #12
Good on you! Cha Jul 2013 #13
What gets me is all the misinformation about Obamacare out there. I am right now in Missouri and... Lady Freedom Returns Jul 2013 #14
Dunno know, LFR.. they get a lot of disinformation from Cha Jul 2013 #15
I'll send you a DUmail on that. N/T Lady Freedom Returns Jul 2013 #16
And along with the correct ... 1StrongBlackMan Jul 2013 #17
Good plan. Cha Jul 2013 #18

rurallib

(63,166 posts)
1. Imagine: human beings being treated like human beings
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 08:26 AM
Jul 2013

sounds like a very American idea at the least!

tridim

(45,358 posts)
2. I can, it's why I SMH every time I hear DU trashing Obamacare.
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 08:35 AM
Jul 2013

The ACA is about putting people first, just like the new Consumer Protection Bureau.

I think maybe some people can't process this because it's such a rare thing.

sheshe2

(87,272 posts)
3. Thanks to you and the BOG!
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 11:26 AM
Jul 2013

Thank you for sharing this Cha. Such great news!

Obamacare is going to take us out of the dark ages. Good move Oregon for implementing all facets of ACA. My only hope is that some of the red states rise up and demand the same from their Governors!

Cha

(305,137 posts)
4. Oregon is so progressive.. I just love it, she!
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 11:30 AM
Jul 2013

They are the forerunners, no doubt, on providing Obamacare for their homeless.. that will most certainly help them to be homeless no more.

OT.. I've been up all night! I'm still not sleepy. so weird.

Have a good day at work, she

sheshe2

(87,272 posts)
5. It is really good news Cha~
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 11:50 AM
Jul 2013

I can't believe you were up all night.

I was up late but slept so long I may be late for a 2PM shift.

Cha

(305,137 posts)
7. Sleep patterns.. I wish
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 12:00 PM
Jul 2013

we could control them. And, say when we want to go to sleep and when we want to wake up. Like the midnight to 8am shift. but, noooo!

my smoke alarm went off at 4:30am and I couldn't turn it off.. but, haha.. I never went to sleep so it didn't wake me up . Okay, now I'm just getting

You can make it, she!

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
8. I didn’t read the linked article; but …
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 08:14 PM
Jul 2013

I suspect the biggest boost to homelessness prevention is that mental healthcare is also covered. I think I read where a significant segment of the homeless population (but not all, or maybe even most) suffers with mental health issues.

Now people can get the counseling they could use AND the meds they might need.

Cha

(305,137 posts)
9. I don't see where it addresses "mental health" directly.. but, that's
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 08:28 PM
Jul 2013

a good point. But, they do talk about counseling and alcohol and drug treatments. Which can also be an important step in helping mental stability..

“What it means is that people with primary addiction disorders will now have access to health care,” she says. “They’ll have access to alcohol and drug treatment programing that previously they didn’t have access to because they just didn’t have enough money for uninsured people to have treatment.”

While it’s the federal government that’s going to be picking up the tab for health insurance, Oregon’s new Coordinated Care Organizations may benefit from a healthier population. In theory, healthier people should cost the health care system less.

Cha

(305,137 posts)
11. Yay.. thank you for the link..
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 08:55 PM
Jul 2013

•Mental health and substance use disorder benefits are included as Essential Health Benefits

•Federal parity protections are applied to mental health and substance use disorder benefits in the individual and small group markets

•Mandated parity for mental health and substance use disorder benefits in the individual and small group market will expand benefits availability to 62 million more Americans

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
12. Yep ...
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 09:06 PM
Jul 2013

Back in my Cleveland days, I spent a lot of time in Homeless Camps (I sponsored a cook-out the first day of Spring that the temperature hit 70 degrees). I knew many of them and they knew me.

I found that a lot of the homeless had unmet mental health/drug addiction issues.

Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
14. What gets me is all the misinformation about Obamacare out there. I am right now in Missouri and...
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 10:31 PM
Jul 2013

was overhearing a conversation that was going on.

There are many here being told that they will now have to pay $60-$150 a week out of there checks or go to jail for no insurance. I have no idea where they are getting this from?

ADD) and they really believe they will go to jail if the employers don't do this. Apparently some are being told this by employers.

Cha

(305,137 posts)
15. Dunno know, LFR.. they get a lot of disinformation from
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 10:49 PM
Jul 2013

all kinds of sources that are invested in tearing down Obamacare because it's so good for people.

There's a lot of real information on Obamacare Facts right in this Group. Sheshe has posted a lot of information. CVS drugstores across the country are going to help give people facts on how it can help them. So that will be really beneficial.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110213054

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110212098

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110212929

P.S. how long are you staying in Missouri?

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
17. And along with the correct ...
Wed Jul 31, 2013, 07:13 AM
Jul 2013

information, if they seem sincerely ignorant (versus willfully so) ... ask that they re-consider their "information" source, reminding them that this isn't the first time they have been probably misinformed.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Barack Obama»Huge News~ Obamacare Wil...