When COVID-19 reached Oregon in March of this year, the Oregon Health Authority initiated a contact tracing program as a tool to control the spread of the disease. The OHA website informs the public. "Contact tracing means calling people who may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to provide guidance and support. It’s a key tool for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In Oregon, local public health authorities use contact tracing to prevent the spread of many types of diseases, like measles."

On August 5th, the Oregon Legislature Emergency Board approved a $94.2 million Federal Funds expenditure for the Department of Administrative Services and Oregon Health Authority to conduct contact tracing. LFO issued a report on CARES Act distributions in Oregon related to contact tracing. According to the report, the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division received:

• $28.7 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to support COVID-19 contact tracing and case investigation performed by local public health authorities, except for Multnomah and Washington counties, which received funds through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
• $27.6 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to support COVID-19 contact tracing performed by community-based organizations.
• $10.0 million in CRF for testing and contact tracing performed by Multnomah County.
• $3.3 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to support COVID-19 contact tracing and case investigation performed by Oregon's federally recognized tribes.

Much of this money went to support public contact tracer workers, but quite a bit -- $9.4 million in CARES Act funded contracts -- went to 173 Community-based Organizations for:

• Outreach and community engagement
• Contact tracing together with local public health authorities
• Providing people with social services/wraparound supports

Each of the Community-based Organizations has a specific racial, disability or socio-economic community that they serve. According to the OHA website, "Community-based organizations, including advocacy groups, and Community Health Workers are central to the success of our contact tracing efforts. They will help us reach and respond to the needs of people of color, tribal members, people with disabilities, immigrant and refugee communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, and migrant and seasonal farm workers."

The OHA claims to have hired 600 contract tracers, in addition to the Community-based Organization workers. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials recommends a ratio of 1:1,000 individuals to tracers, which would put the need in Oregon at about 1,200.

The value of contact tracing is not historically disputed. The amount spent on public workers and given to Community-based organizations has been called into question by some. To date, OHA claims that we have some 70,000 cases in Oregon. The Oregon based outbreak is about 150 days old. That means 600 contact tracers -- according to the OHA site, but probably more -- have handled 117 cases each or an average of 0.78 (i.e. fewer than one) cases per day. This seems like a manageable load -- certainly one that could be covered by almost $70 million in spending.

Another way to look at it, is to divide the spend of $70 million by 70,000 cases, which means that the state has allocated about $1,000 per case. And remember, this isn't care. This is contact tracing.

The upcoming legislative session will be a great opportunity for accountability.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-11-30 19:36:58

Last Update: 2020-11-30 22:43:09