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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Three elections that matter right now ... The Concord launches ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 20, 1915 ... Our View: Three elections that matter right now ... The Concord launches ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 20, 1915 ... HEALTH CARE Jackson County needs more space to serve OHP clients Three buildings to be remodeled Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 3:56 PM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 4:27 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 3:56 PM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 4:27 PM » Social News In order to serve a burgeoning number of Oregon Health Plan patients, Jackson County will keep and remodel buildings it had planned to sell. The county is seeking bids on a project to remodel three buildings located between 1000 and 1025 E. Main St. in downtown Medford. County employees working in veterans' services, environmental health and other areas now work in the buildings, but officials had hoped to move them into the new Jackson County Health & Human Services building at 140 S. Holly St., said Harvey Bragg, senior deputy administrator for the county. Opened this year, the $36 million building and eight-story parking garage on Holly Street were meant to provide one-stop services for health and social services clients who previously visited nine buildings scattered around the area. "Initially our idea was we would be able to move everyone out of those facilities into the new building," Bragg said of the buildings that will be remodeled. "Because of the number of people we've had to hire and the extension of services, we've had to retain those buildings. They are facilities we'll keep for the foreseeable future." The 2010 Affordable Care Act expanded eligibility criteria for people to join the Oregon Health Plan, which provides subsidized health coverage. The federal act also put mental health care on par with physical health care, leading to a surge in demand for mental health care workers and services. Jackson County receives money from local coordinated care organizations to provide mental health care for OHP patients. The number of county residents on OHP has almost doubled since 2013 to at least 60,000 this year. Almost one-third of county residents are on OHP. About 5,000 of OHP clients receive county mental health services, county officials said. Jackson County expects to hire between 100 and 150 new employees this fiscal year for its Health and Human Services Department, primarily for mental health care, according to County Administrator Danny Jordan. The department already hired 64 workers last fiscal year, he said. The remodeling project for the older county buildings includes new flooring, paint, doors, ceilings, parking lots and interior lighting, duct work, siding, walls and electrical work, according to county bidding documents. Bragg said county officials hope to lease out half of one building to another organization or business. County workers will occupy the rest of the space in the buildings. Some county mental health workers will join the other county employees working in the buildings, said Malisa Dodd, deputy director of the Health and Human Services Department. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 3:56 PM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 4:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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