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Welcome to the OHA’s Health Information Technology (IT) eNewsletter! Here you will find updates on health IT in Oregon and at the federal level. For a deeper dive into health IT in Oregon, check out the Policy and Program Updates. If there are specific items you would like to see in this newsletter, please send ideas to HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
February Meeting
HITOC’s next meeting is February 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be virtual. Members will finalize the HITOC 2026 Workplan and hear updates on policy and program work related to various health IT topics, including the Rural Health Transformation Program, health IT and behavioral health, federal health IT policies, and the 2026 state legislative session.
As always, a public comment period will be available: refer to the meeting agenda for times or email HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Rural Health Transformation Program
OHA is excited to announce that Oregon has received its official Notice of Award from CMS on December 29, 2025, for the Rural Health Transformation Program grant (RHTP). Oregon has been awarded $197.3 million for the program's first year in 2026.
The Oregon RHTP team looks forward to partnering with rural communities and CMS to implement this initiative. We look forward to improving access to high-quality, reliable care and supporting long-term improvements in health outcomes for rural communities across the state. To learn more about the RHTP visit the OHA RHTP webpage.
Monitoring Federal Changes and Impacts on Oregon
OHA maintains a webpage that lists some of the latest information about federal policy changes and their potential impacts on Oregon. Visit the webpage to learn more.
ASTP/ONC RFI on Accelerating the Adoption and Use of AI in Clinical Care
On December 19, 2025, HHS released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking broad public input on how HHS can accelerate the adoption and use of artificial intelligence as part of clinical care. HHS is accepting RFI submissions through February 23, 2026. Read the press release here.
HTI-5 Proposed Rule Comment Period
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC), released the HTI-5 Proposed Rule. The HTI-5 Proposed Rule includes deregulatory actions that update the ONC Health IT Certification Program. The proposed rule is open for public comment until February 27, 2026. ASTP/ONC recently posted a recorded information session with a more in-depth overview of the proposed rule. Learn more and comment on the proposed rule on the ASTP webpage.
Primary Care Strategy Committee
The Oregon Health Policy Board is committed to a sustainable and fully supported primary care system where every person has access to whole-person care that fosters well-being, strengthens communities, uplifts care teams, advances equity, and keeps health care affordable.
To achieve this vision, the Oregon Health Policy Board is launching a Primary Care Strategy Committee beginning April 2026.
The Primary Care Strategy Committee will lead a coordinated effort to stabilize, strengthen, and align Oregon’s primary care system with the goal of strengthening access to equitable, affordable, high-quality patient care. The Committee will promote innovative solutions for a strong primary care system focusing on payment and affordability, workforce, and the delivery system.
To learn more about the Primary Care Strategy Committee, please review the Call for Applications.
To apply, complete the online Member Application. If you are unable to submit your application via the online survey, please email OHPB.CommitteeRecruitment@oha.oregon.gov.
All applications are due by Friday, February 6, 2026.
For More Information, visit the Primary Care Strategy Committee webpage, or contact: OHPB.PrimaryCare@oha.oregon.gov.
Committee on Health Care Affordability
The Committee on Health Care Affordability is currently recruiting applicants with experience purchasing group health plans!
The Oregon Health Policy Board is has named affordability as one of its top priorities for 2026. To advance this goal, the Board launched a Committee on Health Care Affordability that is charged with weighing the most pressing affordability challenges and proposing bold solutions that can make a real difference in lowering costs and curbing excessive spending. Committee members will develop and deliver policy recommendations to the Board.
The committee is currently seeking applicants with a health care purchaser perspective to add their voice to the committee; specifically, employers, business coalitions, labor organizations, and government agencies that arrange or negotiate health coverage on behalf of a group of people.
If you have experience purchasing or negotiating group health plans, please apply for membership on the Committee on Health Care Affordability to help shape decisions that will make a substantive difference in the lives of Oregonians.
To apply: please complete the Member Application, available online, and submit via email to OHPB.Affordability@oha.oregon.gov by Friday, February 6, 2026.
To learn visit the committee web page and call for applications.
Medicaid Advisory Committee
The Medicaid Advisory Committee is recruiting candidates to fill the following positions:
- One health care provider (mental/behavioral health care preferred)
- Medical system/CCO representative
- Consumer advocate
- Health care consumer group representative
Learn more about the MAC on their website, and apply here.
El Comité Asesor de Medicaid (MAC) de Oregón está reclutando candidatos para llenar múltiples puestos vacantes, incluyendo:
- Un proveedor de atención médica (preferentemente atención médica mental/conductual)
- Representante del sistema médico/organización de atención coordinada (CCO)
- Defensor del consumidor
- Representante del grupo de consumidores de atención médica
Cómo aplicar.
OHA Health IT Meetings/Events
How to make public comment
OHA’s Health IT committee and workgroup meetings (i.e., HITOC, HITAG) are open to the public, and public comment is always welcome at the meeting during the specified time or in writing at any time. Public comment is an important part of OHA’s committee work and is an opportunity for members of the public to provide input and feedback to the Committee or Workgroup.
Meetings:
Typically, the public comment period is held at the end of each meeting. There may occasionally be more than one comment period. Members of the public are asked to comment or post in the chat only during this period, and to keep verbal comments to about 2 minutes. The public comment period is held solely for the public to share their thoughts with the Committee or Workgroup. Committee members are unlikely to ask questions or respond to public comment directly but consider public comments during committee work. If you know before the meeting that you’d like to provide public comment, you can email HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov to sign up. If you’d like to provide public comment during the meeting, you can message one of the hosts to sign-up. If you are unable to message, please speak up during the open public comment period.
Written Comment:
You can also send written public comment to HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov at any time. To be included in the materials a meeting please submit the comment no less than 2 business days before the intended meeting. Please specify which group it is for – HITOC or HITAG. Written comment is emailed out and posted as part of meeting materials.
Have questions about public comment? We want to hear from you! Please email HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov
Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:
- CART (live captions)
- Sign language and spoken language interpreters
- Written materials in other languages
- Braille
- Large print
- Audio and other formats
If you need help or have questions, please email HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov or contact (503) 373-7859 at least 48 hours before the meeting. OHA will make every effort to provide services for requests made closer to the meeting.
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