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Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate Mother's Day
Thank you to all our friends who contributed to the Domestic Violence Clinic in honor of Mother's Day 2008. A complete list of contributors was published in The Register Guard on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 2008.
We are especially grateful to the following sponsors who helped underwrite this year's fundraiser:
Tim Baxter
Edward Bengtson
Peggy A Bond
Tom & Stephanie Connor
John & Kathy Gartland
Donald Herman
Mary Ann Hyatt
Paula King
Peter & Rebecca Kovach
Steve Lee
Milo Mecham & Sara Brownmiller
Tessa Pierce |
Andrew L. Polette
Laura Ann Rains
Marion Sweeney & Kate & Camma Laue
H. Eric Watkins
Mindy Wekselblatt
Pam Whyte
Applied Scientific Instrumentation
Arnold Law Office, LLC
Mustafa T. Kasubhai
SkinnerLopata Harris LLC
SELCO Community Credit Union |
Celebrate Mother's Day by supporting the Domestic Violence Clinic
In celebration of Mother's Day 2008, the Domestic Violence Clinic of the Lane County Legal Aid & Advocacy Center invites YOU to join us in the battle against domestic violence. Your donation will sponsor legal advocacy, advice and defense for low-income women in their pursuit of safer, healthier lives. On Mother's Day, The Register-Guard will publish a list of 1000 people who have joined together to address and fight domestic violence. Donations benefit the Domestic Violence Clinic and are tax-deductible.
The Domestic Violence Clinic represents victims of domestic violence in restraining order and stalking order cases. Third year law students at the University of Oregon School of Law work under the supervision of clinic director, Pat Vallerand, and staff attorneys at Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center. The clinic, which began in 1998, assists about 400 clients each year.
Oregon Health Plan enrollment is closed
State will randomly draw names from 91,675 seeking chance for medical coverage
After five weeks, the Oregon Health Plan reservation list attracted the names of 91,675 uninsured Oregonians by the time it closed Friday, February 29, at midnight. Final numbers were tallied over the weekend.
The reservation list for the Health Plan's Standard benefit package, which insures a limited number of low-income adults who don't qualify for traditional Medicaid, had been open for people to sign up since Jan. 28.
Within the next few days, a state computer will randomly select the names of 3,000 people who will be mailed applications next week; more applications will be mailed in subsequent months. To be considered for eligibility, individuals must complete and return the applications within 30 days of the date stamped on them. Across Oregon, more than 200 outreach sites -- county health departments, hospitals, tribal health clinics, community health centers and safety-net clinics -- will be available to help people complete applications.
"Seeing 91,675 Oregonians sign up just for a chance to apply for health insurance is a reflection of the vigorous demand for medical coverage," said Jim Edge, state Medicaid director in the Oregon Department of Human Services. "And these people represent only a fraction of the nearly 600,000 Oregonians without coverage."
Edge said the state estimates 137,000 Oregonians would qualify for Standard coverage.
Budget limitations closed the Standard benefit plan to new enrollments in July 2004. The plan was reopened after program enrollment fell below the number the budget can support, which is a monthly average of 24,000 during the two-year budget period.
DHS officials consulted with medical, legal, disability and county stakeholders before deciding to use a reservation list from which a computer would randomly draw names; it then won federal approval to use the process, which also addressed needs of individuals with disability, economic or cultural barriers. A robust public awareness campaign supporting the reservation list -- 5,000 posters in English and Spanish, 670,000 brochures in 10 languages, direct mail to 330,000 households and materials to 1,800 community partners -- was the most comprehensive in DHS history.
Edge said 15.6 percent of Oregonians were uninsured in 2006, the most recent year for which data are available, compared with 10.7 percent in 1996 when the Oregon Health Plan's Standard benefit package was enrolling five times as many people. Oregon's 2006 rate of individuals without health insurance was below the national rate of 16.6 percent.
The highest rate of uninsured Oregonians was 19.1 percent in a region comprising Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, with the lowest rate of 13.5 percent in a regional comprising Grant, Harney, Klamath and Lake counties. The highest rate of Oregonians without health insurance was among adults in their 20s.
The Standard plan, with nearly 18,000 people enrolled, covers physician services, prescription drugs, mental health and chemical dependency services, emergency medical services, and limited dental, hospital and vision benefits. If someone who applies for Standard coverage instead qualifies for a different program, Edge said, DHS eligibility workers will notify the individual that he or she has been enrolled in that program. (The separate Plus program, meanwhile, is always open to people who are aged, blind, disabled, pregnant, younger than 19 or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. Individuals can request applications by calling 1-800-359-9517.)
Meanwhile, the Oregon Health Fund Board, appointed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski in September, is working on proposals to expand affordable, high-quality health care to more Oregonians. The Governor is expected to consider the board's ideas in preparing his recommended budget for the 2009 Oregon Legislature.
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Oregon Health Plan accepting new clients
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For the first time since mid-2004, the Oregon Health Plan is preparing to accept new enrollees for its Standard benefit package. The Standard benefit package serves low-income Oregon adults ages 19 to 65 who do not qualify for traditional Medicaid but earn less than the federal poverty level, which is $20,650 annually for a family of four. Beginning Januart 28th and lasting through February 29th, Oregonians who believe they might qualify for OHP-Standard may put their names on a reservation list by calling a 60-line phone bank, sending an e-mail or using U.S. Mail.
Shortly after February 29th the Oregon Department of Human Services will begin drawing names from the reservation list, using recognized random-selection methods. DHS then will send individuals whose names are drawn applications for OHP-Standard. Those applications must be completed and returned to DHS within 30 days.
At its peak OHP-Standard served 132,000 people, according to Jim Edge, state Medicaid director in the Oregon Department of Human Services.
"However, due to General Fund budget cuts in 2004, the program was closed to new enrollments and the number of clients served was reduced to an average of just 24,000 a biennium."
The program now is supported by taxes on hospitals and managed-care plans, which the two industry groups supported. Attrition has dropped the numbers of people served to 19,000, opening the way to enroll more individuals until the biennial average of 24,000 clients is reached.
"We believe demand will be high for this health care coverage," said Edge.
"Many more people qualify than the number of openings available, which is why we have created the reservation list and random selection method. We believe this is the most equitable way to enroll new clients."
People wishing to get on the reservation list beginning January 28th may:
• Go to oregon.gov/DHS/open and select "Request Form" from the menu option, then complete and submit the form.
• Pick up a form at a DHS office, complete it and return it to any local DHS office, or fax it to 503-373-7866 or 503-378-6925.
• Call 1-800-699-9075 toll-free Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Pacific time. Salem-area residents may call 503-378-2666. The call will take 10-20 minutes to complete.
• E-mail the required information to standard.reservation@state.or.us .
• Mail the required information to Oregon Health Plan, P.O. Box 14520, Salem, OR 97309-5044.
Individuals must provide their full name, date of birth and mailing address.
A person may put another individual's name on the reservation list if the individual's full name, birth date and mailing address are known. No reservations will be accepted prior to January 28th.
Edge noted that DHS is launching a vigorous statewide information campaign to reach as many Oregonians as possible with news about the reopening of OHP-Standard.
"We are inviting nearly 2,000 partners and providers to help us get the word out," he said. "We're working with education service districts, low-income health care clinics, county health departments, hospitals, tribal offices, legal aid organizations, faith organizations, advocates and others. We want as many people to know about this opportunity as possible."
Among OHP-Standard's benefits are physician services, prescription drugs, chemical dependency and mental health services, emergency medical services, and limited dental, hospital and vision benefits. Most enrollees pay modest premiums.
The federal government approved use of the reservation system as part of its authorization to the state to continue the Oregon Health Plan, whose budget is 60 percent federally supported, for another three years.
The OHP-Standard benefit package is a key element of the 13-year-old Oregon Health Plan. It expands health care coverage to impoverished adults who do not qualify for traditional Medicaid coverage.
Children and adolescents may receive coverage if they live in households with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level even if adults in the household are ineligible.
Edge also noted that other Oregon Health Plan benefit packages continue to be open to new enrollees.
"I encourage people who do not have health care insurance to not only get their names on the OHP-Standard reservation list during February," he said, "but also to see whether they may qualify for other Oregon Health Plan coverage." |
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Support Legal Aid by Donating to the Oregon Lawyers' Campaign for Equal Justice
For the past sixteen years, the Lawyers' Campaign for Equal Justice has helped raise funds to support legal aid programs throughout the state of Oregon. The CEJ has been instrumental to our programs, providing support and funding to enable us to continue our work. |
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The Lawyers' Campaign for Equal Justice was established in 1991 and works to support 91 legal aid attorneys in 16 communities throughout Oregon. CEJ's mission is to champion access to justice for low-income Oregonians through education and by working to increase funding for legal aid. CEJ activities help educate the community on the work being done by Oregon's legal services programs, and also on the great need for increased services. Because only 20% of the legal needs of low-income Oregonians can be met with current resources, CEJ works to increase funding through grants, foundation support, state and federal funding, and direct fundraising from private attorneys.
Thank you to the Campaign and to all the lawyers and volunteers who have contributed their efforts and money to help us.
PLEASE VISIT THE CEJ WEBSITE AND MAKE A DONATION TODAY
TO THE LAWYERS' CAMPAIGN FOR EQUAL JUSTICE
Erika Nordhaus named Regional Director of LASO Lane County
Legal Aid Services of Oregon has named Erika Nordhaus as the new Regional Director of the Legal Aid Services of Oregon (Lane County) office. Prior to taking this position, Erika worked as a staff attorney in the Albany legal aid office and in legal aid in southern California. She is a graduate from Colorado State University and Syracuse University College of Law. During law school, she spent a summer in Africa in the Law in Zimbabwe program.
Erika suceeds long-time legal aid director Laurence Hamblen, who left in May to become Executive Director of Eugene Hearing and Speech Center. The current LASO Lane County staff consists of Erika Nordhaus, Director; Steve Kanaga, Staff Attorney; Kathy Rice, Paralegal; and Lisa Jordan, Legal Secretary.
Standing (left to right): Lisa Jordan, Steve Kanaga, Kathy Rice
Sitting: Erika Nordhaus
LASO Lane County is separate from our other legal aid organization, Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center, under the direction of Ralph Saltus. Click here for a list of staff for both organizations.
Laurence Hamblen steps down after 21 years at Lane County Legal Aid
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On May 11, 2007, Laurence Hamblen announced that he would be leaving Legal Aid Services of Oregon (Lane County)** to become the Executive Director of the Eugene Hearing and Speech Center, where he has served as a Board member and volunteer for 18 years.
Laurence has been with us for 21 years. He was the Executive Director of Lane County Legal Aid Service from 1986 until it merged with LASO in July 2006. He then became the Regional Director of LASO Lane County.
Laurence was born in Spokane, Washington and graduated from Whitman College and Willamette University College of Law. He has spent 37 years with legal services programs in Oregon, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. |
Laurence leaves us a wonderful legacy. He directed services to thousands of low-income persons and families, giving them access to justice and helping them better their lives. He mentored scores of young attorneys, program staff and volunteers and led by the example of his dedication and commitment. And his soft-spoken eloquence has won innumerable friends for legal services in our state, in our community, and among members of the private bar. We can never thank Laurence enough for his tremendous contributions to our programs.
We will miss you Laurence! Good luck!
** Legal Aid Services of Oregon (Lane County) is an LSC-funded organization. It is separate from Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center, which does not receive LSC funds.
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Please help us stop domestic violence!
The University of Oregon's Domestic Violence Clinic is seeking private gifts and donations to continue its services. The Clinic is housed at Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center. Third-year law students at the University of Oregon School of Law, under the supervision of the clinic director, Pat Vallerand, represent Legal Aid clients in court cases involving restraining orders and stalking orders.
Please take a moment to read about our Stop Violence Against Women Project and our Domestic Violence Clinic:
Stop Violence Against Women Project
Domestic Violence Clinic
More information about the Domestic Violence Clinic from the University of Oregon School of Law:
The University of Oregon's Domestic Violence Clinic
10 reasons to contribute to our efforts
Recent coments from past participants
Friends
Domestic Abuse Law -- 2005 syllabus
U.S. Supreme Court rejects state's petition in Watson
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that Medicaid beneficiaries in Oregon who were denied nursing facility benefits may sue the state in federal court (Goldberg v. Watson, U.S., No. 06-474, review denied 11/13/06). Plaintiffs are represented by Steve Skipton of Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center and attorneys from Oregon Law Center, National Senior Citizens Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon.
The Watson case was filed in 2003 by seven Medicaid-eligible Oregon residents, who are seniors and disabled
individuals and who had received home and community-based
services as an alternative to Medicaid institutional nursing
facility services. They lost their Medicaid eligibility, however,
when the Oregon Department of Human Services
scaled back the state’s Medicaid program in the
face of a budget crisis.
Plaintiffs sued the state officials
in federal district court under the federal civil rights statute, 42 U.S.C. §1983. The individual
plaintiffs alleged that they required the level of care that
entitles them to nursing facility services under the Medicaid
Act. They further alleged that the Department’s actions violated section 1396a(a)(10) of the Medicaid Act, which requires states to provide
nursing facility services to eligible individuals, and
section 1396a(a)(17)of the Medicaid Act, which requires states to use reasonable
standards in setting Medicaid eligibility.
The federal district court granted the Department’s motion to dismiss
the complaint, concluding that the Medicaid Act provisions
in question do not create individual rights enforceable
through section 1983. In dismissing the case, the district court also
denied Plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint.
Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of their complaint and the
denial of leave to amend. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court's decision in part and held that the language of the Medicaid Act requires states to provide nursing facility services to eligible individuals, and that section 1396a(a)(10) does create
an individual right enforceable under section 1983. On the other hand, the Ninth Circuit upheld the district court's decision that section 1396a(a)(17) does not create such an individual
right. Watson v. Weeks, 436 F.3d 1152 (9th Cir. 2006).
Oregon Medicaid agency's director filed a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court requesting review of the Ninth Circuit decision. The state argued that the appeals court erred in finding that the provision of the Medicaid Act - which requires state governments to provide minimum services to all financially eligible individuals - could be enforced in a private action brought under the federal civil rights statute, 42 U.S.C. §1983.
The petition also contended that the appeals court applied the wrong analysis in concluding that 42 U.S.C. §1396a(a)(10) - requiring states to make nursing facility services “available … to all individuals” meeting financial eligibility standards - creates private rights that are enforceable under Section 1983. The petition urged the Supreme Court to accept review on the basis that Congress's inclusion of a specific enforcement mechanism showed that it did not intend to provide for private lawsuits under Section 1983 as well. However, the state conceded that all the appeals courts reviewing the issue had held that Section 1396a(a)(10) created rights enforceable under Section 1983.
The Supreme Court's decision to deny review leaves the Ninth Circuit decision intact. The case will now return to the federal District Court for Oregon for further proceedings and trial.
We've made some changes!
We are now Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon (Lane County).
On July 1, 2006, Lane County Legal Aid Service (LCLAS) merged with Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO). Director Laurence Hamblen and attorney Steve Kanaga, formerly with LCLAS, will staff the LASO Lane County office.
Lane County Law and Advocacy Center has been renamed as Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center (LCLAAC). Former Legal Aid attorneys Jim Kocher, Dana Woolbright, Gina Stewart and Maria Schaad have joined Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center. Both the Civil Clinic and the Domestic Violence Clinic will now be part of LCLAAC.
Click here for the NEW STAFF GUIDE for:
Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center and
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (Eugene).
For many years, there were three Legal Aid programs in Oregon which were funded by the national Legal Services Corporation (LSC) -- LASO, LCLAS and Marion-Polk Legal Aid Service (MPLAS) in Salem. LSC required LCLAS and MPLAS to merge with LASO to form one statewide legal services program. LCLAAC, then known as Lane County Law and Advocacy Center, was formed in 1997 to provide legal aid services in Lane County using non-LSC funding.
Click here to view a graphic chart of these organization changes.
Thank you for visiting our website!
NOTE: We cannot accept applications or give legal advice by e-mail.
Revised 03.24.08
LANE COUNTY LEGAL AID AND ADVOCACY CENTER and LEGAL AID SERVICES OF OREGON are separate, independent non-profit corporations. SENIOR LAW SERVICE is part of Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center. Legal Aid Services of Oregon is funded by the Legal Services Corporation. Use of these funds is restricted. LASO does not engage in nor provide support for any restricted activities. Both of these organizations help serve the legal needs of low-income persons in Lane County.
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