|
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.
August Meeting
HITOC’s next meeting is August 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be virtual. Much of the meeting will focus on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health IT, including a presentation and small group discussion covering state and federal regulation, governance, use of emerging agentic AI models in health care, and patient use of AI. In addition, members will discuss current “hot topics” in health IT and ideas for a position paper on interoperability. Members will hear updates on Medicaid eligibility changes under HR1 and the Rural Health Transformation Program.
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
OHA staff are currently reviewing applications, which closed earlier this month. We continue to have an available seat for oral health, and we encourage those with oral health experience to apply by completing the HITOC Membership Application (Solicitud de membresía de HITOC). See the Member Recruitment page for full details.
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. Visit the HITOC recruitment webpage for more information.
Community Information Exchange (CIE)
OHA CIE contracts progress
OHA is in the process of procuring CIE with the two vendors used in Oregon, Findhelp and Unite Us, to support Oregon's Medicaid program, including the 1115 waiver health-related social needs closed loop referrals for Open Card.
A major step in this process was achieved in June. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) executed a statewide price agreement with Findhelp. This agreement creates a menu of services that all state agencies and Oregon Cooperative Procurement Program (OrCPP) members, such as counties, can contract directly without additional procurement steps needed. Now that the DAS Findhelp price agreement is in place, OHA can proceed with a Findhelp contract which is expected to be executed early 2027.
OHA’s Unite Us contract execution is expected in August. The Unite Us DAS statewide price agreement was previously executed in October 2025, and allows state agencies and OrCPP members to contract directly.
Ongoing direct technical assistance (TA) is now available to support Medicaid health-related social needs (HRSN) providers using Connect Oregon/Unite Us 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.
Visit the HIT Commons training webpage to learn more, sign up for upcoming training webinars, and view recordings of past trainings.
If you or your organization are interested in direct Unite Us TA for Medicaid HRSN providers email Michael Thomas at michael@tetralync.com to learn more.
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. Technology and Data Modernization is one of the five initiatives in Oregon’s RHTP.
Information and updates on Oregon’s Rural Health Transformation Program can be found on the OHA RHTP webpage. Sign up for Oregon’s RHTP Newsletter on the RHTP website.
United States Core Data Interoperability (USCDI) v7
On July 2026, the Office of National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) released the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) v7, which introduces 31 new data elements and two new data classes to advance interoperability for patient care. This version strengthens support for patient safety, nutrition care, and administrative burden reduction in alignment with national health and wellness priorities. The accompanying Standards Bulletin 26-2 describes ONC’s continued expansion of USCDI and reflects ONC’s consideration of submissions for new data elements and comments on previously submitted data elements.
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.
The OHA Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC) is recruiting!
OHA is currently recruiting for six open positions on the Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC). All positions would start in September 2026. The BAC is a group where people with Medicaid can share their thoughts and ideas with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). It gives advice to the Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) and to OHA about how to improve the Medicaid program in Oregon.
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.
|
