PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Most of the $1.27 billion Oregon is getting in federal stimulus money for health and human services is going to people whose medical benefits are paid by the Oregon Health Plan — the state's version of Medicaid.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding has boosted the number of people on the plan to about 460,000 and allowed the state to handle a caseload that has increased about 15 percent without reducing benefits to existing patients.
But officials worry about what happens when the stimulus money runs out in 2011.
State Sen. Alan Bates says unless the economy improves substantially in the coming months, serious cutbacks may be necessary.
