While behavioral-health providers in many states have voluntarily adopted evidence-based standards, Oregon is believed to be the only state where the law requires behavioral health agencies to show that a percentage of its program funding supports evidence-based programs.

The law passed last year requires the Office of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Corrections, the Oregon Youth Authority, the State Commission on Children and Families, and the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to provide scientific evidence that shows the programs that they are funding work.

Under the law, for the two-year budget cycle beginning July 1, 2005, 25 percent of program funding must support evidence-based addiction treatment programs. The percentage increases to 50 percent in July 1, 2007 and 75 percent in July 2009 and beyond. Agencies that fail to meet the targets could risk losing funding.

The law has been met with a mixed reaction from Oregon's behavioral-health providers. "There is a lot of upset going on around this," said Richard Drandoff, executive director of ChangePoint, an outpatient addiction-treatment facility. "This thing is getting talked about in a lot of state legislatures."

Part of the confusion stems from the vagueness of the law's definition of evidence-based. In addition, the bill provides no funding to implement any required changes.

Despite the concerns, Drandoff said, "People will adjust like they adjust to anything else."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Eric McDougle on 16 Apr 08 07:05 PM EDT

I think that it is a great ideal. I have been working as a Therapist for several yars and I have watched kids go into and out of group homes than go start to prison etc. No benifit from the intervention. How can I do some of this stuff with group homes?

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