Oregon Health Authority
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Politics
How Oregon’s laws on forcing mental health treatment could change this year
The state has wrestled for years with ordering civil commitments for people with severe mental illness. Here’s what you need to know.

Health
Oregon’s health services impacted by nearly $120M in federal cuts to COVID-era grants
The Oregon Health Authority said the Trump administration has canceled roughly $117 million in COVID-era grants.

Civil rights
Oregon health officials’ effort to dodge a federal contempt order hurts people experiencing mental illness, critics say
Advocates are concerned that a new Oregon Health Authority rule will substitute one civil rights violation for another.

Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi has taken a side gig in California
Stanford University’s School of Medicine recently named Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi to a part-time position on its faculty, meaning she’ll see patients in California one weekend a month while, during the week, overseeing the 5,000-employee Oregon agency’s operations at a challenging time.
Oregon bill seeks OHA’s involvement in Missing and Murdered Indigenous People response
Rep. Tawna Sanchez has introduced HB 3198, a bill proposing the Oregon Health Authority’s involvement in responding to missing and murdered Indigenous people cases to improve coordination and support for affected communities.

OHA flags Eugene-based medical group, 2 insurers for excessive spending
Oregon has been trying to reign in health care spending for years. In 2019, lawmakers created the Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Program to study and limit health care costs.

How Oregon health officials are preparing for change under Trump
Oregonians’ health care could face more change than most states under the new federal administration, and Dr. Sejal Hathi, director of the state health authority, said officials are preparing to respond quickly as things happen.

CDC confirms Oregon’s first-ever human case of bird flu
Oregon health officials said the individual is connected to a poultry operation in Clackamas County where the Oregon Department of Agriculture previously confirmed the virus in 150,000 birds.
Health
2 Portland-area counties are suing Oregon over money to fight addiction
Washington and Clackamas counties say the Oregon Health Authority didn't follow appropriate rules when deciding how to dole out funding.

Oregon health officials suggest precautions as COVID-19 infections remain high
Oregonians may need to take a few more COVID-19 protections this fall, as the rate of infection in the region continues to rise.