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In this issue: |
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Gov. Tina Kotek recently appointed Dr. Sejal Hathi interim director at Oregon Health Authority. Her confirmation hearing with the Legislature is scheduled for Feb. 6, with a vote scheduled in the days following the hearing.
We asked Dr. Hathi a series of questions to help Oregonians get to know her. Here is a sample:
OHA: How does your background as a physician shape the way you think about this role?
Dr. Hathi: To best answer this question, I should go a bit further back and mention my childhood. When I was 15, I was diagnosed with a mental illness, namely anorexia nervosa. It was extremely hard on me and my family.
For months, my parents and I denied my diagnosis. But eventually I began to realize that society has created a culture in which thousands of people, and especially young women, fall prey to eating disorders, depression and other psychosocial illnesses because we do not understand our intrinsic worth. And, therefore, we cannot possibly reach outside of ourselves to imagine and create a better world.
Against this backdrop, my physicians – from my pediatrician to my endocrinologist, OBGYN, and psychiatrist – were transformative. They gave me back my dignity and helped me begin the path to recovery.
Today, I strive to do the same for others, by caring for people as a doctor and by fostering health systems that empower all people to reach their full potential – by building trust, dismantling inequities, and espousing and embodying a more holistic definition of “health.” It’s with this lens and perspective that I approach our work today in Oregon. And when I talk about the importance of supporting, empowering and listening to those with lived experience, this personal journey is a major part of what motivates me.
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 Funding from Measure 110 has allowed Bay Area First Step, Inc., an organization offering substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services, to expand and improve how it works with clients. Located in Coos County, Bay Area First Step is entirely peer-run, providing person-centered outpatient treatment programs, recovery housing and recovery support services.
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What does “Healthy Smiles, Healthy Bodies” mean to you?
Oregon’s children are invited to answer that question by submitting original artwork to OHA’s first annual Oral Health Program art contest in recognition of Children’s Dental Health Month.
Good oral health during childhood sets us up for a lifetime of healthy mouths, and we know that taking good care of our mouth helps keep our whole body healthy. In February, we want to make sure everyone in Oregon knows how important it is to take care of our mouths, and we also want to have a bit of fun!
Here are the details of the art contest:
- Children ages 4 through 18 who live in Oregon are invited to participate.
- Any form of art is welcome as long as the art is about teeth or the mouth, or related to dentistry and health.
- Digital images and photography must be 100% original.
- Artwork will be judged in three age groups: 4-7, 8-12 and 13-18. Two winners from each age group will receive a goodie bag, which includes an electric toothbrush, a regular toothbrush, stickers, a brushing calendar and more!
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Submit artwork by Feb. 20 via email to oral.health@oha.oregon.gov. Please include the parent or guardian’s name, email address and phone number. Winners will be announced Feb. 29.
Winning artwork may also be published on our website and social media.
For more information, visit our website, click or scan the QR code, or contact Stephanie Glickman via email.
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Health notes |
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Did you know that 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented by screening and vaccination?
January, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, is your reminder to get screened for cervical cancer. Anyone with a cervix is at risk for cervical cancer, which occurs most often in people over 30. Long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. Screening tests and the HPV vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer. When found early, cervical cancer is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life. Learn more here.
For uninsured or underinsured individuals, cervical cancer screening is available free through OHA’s ScreenWise program. Learn how to become a ScreenWise patient here. You can also call (877) 255-7070 for assistance.
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At the request of SCAN Group and CareOregon, the Health Care Market Oversight (HCMO) program has agreed to a 60-day extension of the HCMO comprehensive review period. HCMO expects to complete its comprehensive review by March 18, 2024.
CareOregon is a prominent provider of Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) benefits in Oregon that plans to combine with California-based nonprofit SCAN Group, which offers Medicare Advantage health plans across multiple states. Learn more about the proposed transaction here.
HCMO is accepting public comments related to this transaction through March 2, 2024. To submit a public comment, please email hcmo.info@oha.oregon.gov and include the word “CareOregon.” Information, status updates, and non-confidential materials provided by SCAN Group and CareOregon will continue to be posted to the transaction web page.
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OHA answers your questions |
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Questions are answered by experts at OHA and other state agencies or community partners.
Q: If I am on Medicare can I still be eligible for Oregon Health Plan (OHP)? – Marilyn, Salem
A: The short answer is yes, you can still be eligible for OHP if you have Medicare, but there are eligibility and coverage differences depending on which program you qualify for that you can learn more about here. If you qualify for OHP in addition to Medicare (known as “full dual” coverage), OHP pays the costs left over after Medicare, and covers additional services such as dental care that Medicare doesn’t cover. You may also qualify for Medicare Savings Programs, which will help pay costs associated with Medicare such as the $174 per month Medicare Part B premiums, and potentially deductibles or co-insurance as well.
If you need help with daily tasks of living, such as in-home care or assisted living, ask about long term services and supports as this also affects OHP rules.
We recommend people call and discuss their situation with a representative at 800-699-9075, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., though you might be on hold for a bit. Wait times are shortest between 7-8 a.m., and later in the week. You can also apply for OHP and Medicare Savings Programs here.
Q: Regarding COVID-19 boosters, my sister is saying she heard a side effect could be blood clots. Is this true? And in what age group? – Maribeth, Portland
A: In the early days of COVID-19 vaccines, there was evidence that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine caused cerebral sinus thrombosis, and it’s since been taken off the market (as of June 1, 2023). This article details the clotting side effects and was written before the drug was pulled.
Studies of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines causing ischemic stroke (i.e., clot in the blood vessels of the brain) have been, overall, inconclusive. For example, researchers did find an initial association between the Pfizer bivalent booster (released in Sept. 2022) and ischemic stroke in patients 65 and older. Additionally, that elevated risk was only seen in persons who got the flu shot along with the bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 shot. It wasn’t seen in patients who got only the COVID-19 shot. And finally, the elevated risk was seen only within the first month or so of the vaccine’s release, and by Nov. 2022 the risk dropped significantly and stayed low.
We have also seen conflicting conclusions about the association of blood clots with COVID-19 vaccines in medical literature pre-prints (i.e., reports that have not undergone peer review).
Weighing an uncertain and possibly false risk of stroke against the well documented ongoing risk of severe COVID-19, OHA believes that vaccination is the best option for most older adults. However, some adults are certainly at higher risk of stroke with or without vaccination; we urge them to discuss with their physician the risks and benefits of vaccination specific to their personal health situation.
If you have questions about health topics in Oregon, submit your question here. Although we are unable to answer every question, we try to address those of interest to a broad audience. Please understand that we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
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If you need mental health support for any reason, help is out there.
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