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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.
OHA’s Unite Us contract signed in August
We’re excited to share an important update about the OHA’s Community Information Exchange (CIE) efforts. OHA signed a contract with Unite Us (Connect Oregon) in August 2026.
This will support OHA programs and contractors, and will allow many partners to join CIE at no cost starting later this year. OHA will work on staged engagement and rollout over the next couple years, starting with Acentra and Medicaid Open Card health-related social needs (HRSN) providers.
Partners that can join for free under OHA’s Unite Us contract include:
- Community-based organizations (always free)
- Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) (always free)
- Medicaid Open Card contractors
- Counties (including Local Public Health Authorities) and Cities
- Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
- Schools and certain education partners
- Tribes and Indian Health Care Providers
- Carceral partners coordinating with Medicaid
- Behavioral health providers
- Any for-profit HRSN service providers (non-profits always free)
- Workforce Development Boards and Economic Development Organizations
OHA is also contracting with the second CIE vendor used in Oregon, Findhelp, with anticipated contract signing in 2027. Both systems will support Medicaid uses and future opportunities for additional OHA programs and partners.
For more information on CIE please visit OHA's CIE website or reach out to CIE.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov with any questions.
Upcoming trainings and ongoing direct technical assistance (TA) to support Medicaid health-related social needs (HRSN) providers using Unite Us/Connect Oregon CIE
Trainings are scheduled through the end of the year to support Medicaid HRSN providers and potential HRSN providers to use Unite Us CIE through OHA’s contract with HIT Commons several. More will be scheduled in 2027.
Visit the HIT Commons training webpage to learn more, sign up for upcoming training webinars, and view recordings of past trainings.
Direct Unite Us TA is also available for Medicaid HRSN providers. Email Michael Thomas at michael@tetralync.com to learn more.
Upcoming Trainings
- November 4 (10-11 a.m.): Unite Us Closing Cases Webinar
- December 2 (9-10:30 a.m.): Unite Us Insights Webinar
If there is interest, OHA will develop support for Medicaid HRSN providers using Findhelp.
October Meeting
HITOC’s next meeting is October 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be virtual. HITOC will welcome four new members. The committee will discuss barriers and efforts to support greater patient use of health IT and data access. Then, HITOC will discuss current “hot topics” in health IT and plans to compile a white paper on Oregon’s interoperability landscape. The committee will hear updates on the Rural Health Transformation Program and other health IT policies and programs.
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 is pleased to welcome four new members to HITOC!
The Oregon Health Policy Board approved the slate of new members at their September 1, 2026 meeting. HITOC’s newest members are:
- Barbara Martin, MS, PA-C, Central City Concern, Medical Director, Health Informatics
- Bill Cox, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Vice President of Information Systems
- Tim Callahan, Albertina Kerr, Head of Information Technology
- Wemimo Ayannubi, NW PTTC (Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center) Substance Use Prevention Fellow, with Washington State University
One seat is open and reserved for a Tribal representative. Recruitment for this seat is managed through OHA Tribal Affairs and is at the discretion of the Tribes.
How to apply for future vacancies:
The application has closed, but individuals are welcome to apply for future opportunities, particularly if they have oral health experience. To apply, complete the HITOC Membership Application (Solicitud de membresía de HITOC). See the Member Recruitment page for full details.
This application may also be used to express interest in future workgroups. Questions regarding membership can be sent to HITOC staff at HITOC.INFO@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
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 is 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.
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.
Security Risk Assessment Tool v3.7 Available
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), in coordination with the Health & Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, is pleased to announce the release of the Security Risk Assessment (SRA) Tool Version 3.7. The tool is designed to help healthcare providers conduct a security risk assessment as required by the HIPAA Security Rule. The target audience of this tool is medium and small providers; thus, use of this tool may not be appropriate for larger organizations. More information on the SRA Tool can be found on the ONC website.
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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