Change follows improvements in people hospitalized for respiratory infections, test positivity
Workers, patients and visitors in health care settings will no longer be required to wear masks starting April 3.
OHA is rescinding provisions in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 333-019-1011 that require workers in health care settings – such as hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulances, outpatient facilities, dental offices, urgent care centers, counseling offices, school-based health centers, complementary and alternative medicine locations – to wear masks. The requirement has been in effect since August 2021.
In addition, Executive Order 22-24 will expire on March 6, 2023. The emergency gave hospitals needed flexibility to respond to a surge in respiratory infections, including COVID-19, RSV and influenza.
OHA released a memo on March 3 to address its position on CCOs providing financial support to organizations that employ OHP-certified Community Partners, also known as “OHP assisters.” These individuals are trained and certified to help clients understand health coverage options and help them complete eligibility and enrollment forms.
OHA occasionally receives inquiries about whether CCOs or their Subcontractors are allowed to provide financial support for enrollment assistance activities provided by OHP- certified Community Partner organizations. In the past, OHA’s position has been that CCOs could not provide such support.
OHA has re-evaluated this position and determined that CCOs and their Subcontractors may provide financial support to OHP-certified Community Partner organizations with the following stipulations:
- The Community Partner organization must have a current contract with OHA’s Community Partner Outreach Program (CPOP) and must have completed OHA’s training and certification requirements to provide enrollment assistance.
- The agreement to provide financial support expressly states that the OHP-certified Community Partner organization is prohibited from engaging in any Marketing activities, as defined in OAR 410-141-3575, on behalf of the CCO in relation to enrollment assistance activities; and
- The CCO and the OHP-certified Community Partner organization may not be Related Parties as defined in the 2023 CCO contract.
Questions?
If you have general questions about this communication, please contact Cheryl Henning, CCO Contracts Administrator, at Cheryl.L.Henning@oha.oregon.gov.
CCOs can request support from OHA in their work with Community Partner organizations through CPOP. CPOP is part of OHA’s External Relations Division and has been involved with Medicaid expansion, outreach, and community engagement work since 2008. CPOP has a network of over 350 Community Partner organizations and over 1,400 application assisters statewide. Please contact Oliver Vera, CPOP Director, at Oliver.Vera@oha.oregon.gov.
The evaluation criteria for quarterly sample reviews of Notices of Adverse Benefit Determination (NOABDs) has been updated and posted to the CCO Contract Forms page.
CCOs can request a redline version by emailing HSD.QualityAssurance@odhsoha.oregon.gov
 The Network Adequacy Project Team has launched a survey to gather feedback about proposed changes to Network Adequacy rules (Oregon Administration Rule 410-141-3515). Everyone is welcome to provide feedback.
The survey deadline is April 3, 2023.
The team also created some educational tools to help explain the importance of network adequacy and what the proposed changes mean, including the video linked above and a dedicated webpage. The Time and Distance webpage is available in English and Spanish.
Please help us spread the word and share these resources with anyone who may be interested.
The Biden-Harris Administration announced that the end of the Public Health Emergency is now planned for May 11.
Register for monthly opportunities to learn more about how OHA and ODHS are working together to prepare benefit recipients for potential changes in their Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and other benefits, including long-term services and supports and food benefits as the federal COVID-19 PHE phases out.
Dates include:
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March 14, 10 to 11 a.m.
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April 11, 10 to 11 a.m.
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May 9,10 to 11 a.m.
Register for the full webinar series. Access webinar materials and other information.
March Ways & Means presentations
Presentations by the Oregon Health Authority will take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on the following days:
Presentations are available to watch, live or recorded, on the committee website.
Helpful links:
For more information about 2023 bills and legislative schedules, please visit the Oregon State Legislature site.
Do you have news or a story to share? Submit your content for an upcoming CCO Weekly Update!
March 13, 2023
March 14, 2023
March 15, 2023
March 16, 2023
March 17, 2023
Please visit the committee and workgroup links below for more information about meetings. You can also view the OHA Public Meeting calendar.
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