Oregon needs nearly 3,000 more beds to adequately treat people in the behavioral health system, a state report found. The Oregon State Hospital in Salem treats hundreds of people in the system daily. (Oregon Health Authority)
Oregon needs to be able to treat nearly 3,000 more people to adequately meet the demand for residential mental health and addiction treatment , an Oregon Health Authority report released Thursday found.
That means Oregon needs nearly 8,000 beds in all, an increase of 70% from the 4,800 beds it has now. The current capacity includes care for people in adult foster homes, residential facilities, the Oregon State Hospital, psychiatric hospital care and other programs. Expansions currently planned for existing facilities will enable providers to treat nearly 5,200 patients.
The report estimates it would take more than $500 million over at least five years to expand and set up new facilities. But that does not include operational costs and salaries.
Gov. Tina Kotek ordered the Oregon Health Authority to commission the report. It hired Public Consulting Group, a private consulting firm headquartered in Boston that has done similar work in Washington and other states.