Oregon DD In-Home Services Cost Rose 18% After Implementing Medicaid Community First Choice

After the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) implemented the Medicaid Community First Choice state plan option to expand access to home- and community-based services (HCBS), the cost per case for in-home developmental disability services increased by 18%. The state’s total budget for in-home services nearly doubled, from $320.3 million for the 2013 to 2015 biennium to $629.9 million for the 2015 to 2017 biennium.

During this time period, 2,400 new children with developmental disabilities were served with HCBS because the Community First Choice option ended the state’s wait list for children . . .