[Opds-contracts] Message to Public Defense Providers on Behalf of Eric Deitrick

[Kaysea R. Dahlstrom]

Hello Public Defense Providers,

We have received feedback about the challenges that some of you are facing right now.  Specifically, we have heard concerns from providers who are funded through the NRE process - investigators, experts, etc. - about cases being postponed, people working from home, and some case work being delayed.

The OPDS Payment Policy states that authorizations may only be billed against once.  This means that NRE providers cannot bill for their work until either (1) the case is closed or (2) they have reached their limit on authorized hours.  OPDS has no control over issue 1.  But with respect to issue 2, we can help!

When requesting services, such as investigative services, you can request that they be divided into smaller units.  For example, if you are requesting 40 hours for investigation, you can request that the authorization be broken up into 4 separate 10-hour authorizations.  This allows the attorney to submit one NRE request, but OPDS will generate 4 authorizations for which the investigator can bill against.

If you are interested in doing this, please make this request in the body of the email you send in to OPDS (AccountsPayable at opds.state.or.us<mailto:AccountsPayable at opds.state.or.us>) when you submit the NRE.  Our intake staff would prefer this request be specifically stated in the email, rather than the body of the NRE form itself.  This will help alert them to the request and allow them to process your NRE more efficiently.  This can be done on short form requests as well.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Thanks,
Eric

Eric J. Deitrick
General Counsel
Office of Public Defense Services
eric.j.deitrick at opds.state.or.us<mailto:eric.j.deitrick at opds.state.or.us>
503-378-2750
503-910-0434 (cell)

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