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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.
June Meeting
HITOC’s next meeting is June 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be virtual. Members will discuss current “hot topics” in health IT and continue exploration into the current state of interoperability in Oregon. Members will hear about interoperability efforts from Reliance eHealth Collaborative as well as coordinated care organizations (CCOs) and HITOC member organizations, including utilization of application programming interfaces (APIs) and national data exchange networks.
As always, a public comment period will be available: refer to the meeting agenda for times or email HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Member recruitment
HITOC member recruitment is now open! HITOC is recruiting for several open positions. Candidates should have strong professional and/or lived experience with health IT and how it impacts people in Oregon. Ideal candidates are committed to eliminating health inequities and ensuring health system transformation efforts are supported by health IT.
The application is now open and will close 6/26/2026. To apply, complete the HITOC Membership Application
Want to learn more about HITOC? Join us for an informational session on Thursday, June 11 from 12-1pm! Register for the event here, or visit the HITOC meetings webpage to find the link to join.
Community Information Exchange (CIE)
Support for Medicaid health-related social needs (HRSN) providers using community information exchange (CIE)
OHA contracted with HIT Commons to provide a range of support and training for Medicaid HRSN providers and potential HRSN providers to use Connect Oregon/Unite Us CIE in 2026-2027. HIT Commons is working with coordinated care organizations (CCOs) to ensure this work complements their efforts. The first training webinar was held April 29.
Visit the HIT Commons training webpage to learn more, sign up for upcoming trainings, and view recordings of past trainings.
If there is interest, OHA will develop support for Medicaid HRSN providers using Findhelp.
Rural Health Transformation Program
Oregon 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 to support improving access to high-quality, reliable care and long-term improvements in health outcomes for rural communities across the state.
Information about Oregon’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) can be found on the OHA RHTP webpage. Sign up for Oregon’s RHTP Newsletter on their website.
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.
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 in the meeting chat 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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