Oregon State Hospital Receives CMS Statement Of Deficiencies -06/11/25

June 11, 2025

Contact: Amber Shoebridge, Amber.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov, 503-931-9586

Oregon State Hospital receives CMS statement of deficiencies

(Salem, Ore.) – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon State Hospital (OSH) are responding to a statement of deficiencies from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), following an April survey.

The deficiencies identified in the report relate to the hospital’s policies and procedures around patients’ rights and the responsibilities of its governing body to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate care.

“This report is a clarion call for the need for the immediate changes being implemented now that will have impact to assure that patients at OSH are safe and receiving the care they need and deserve,” said OHA Deputy Director Dave Baden, who was named OSH acting superintendent on April 11. “Sustained and ongoing cultural changes at the hospital will take time. We need to improve our processes in support of not only patients in seclusion or high-risk patients, but every patient at OSH.”

The statement of deficiencies, which cites instances of system-level failures, comes after CMS surveyors visited OSH after placing the hospital in immediate jeopardy (IJ) which could have resulted in the hospital losing CMS participation eligibility. The hospital put in place corrective actions, which led to CMS lifting the IJ status on May 12, 2025.

Hospital staff have worked to implement crucial improvements to the care and monitoring of patients in seclusion and restraint as well as high-risk patients. Other changes include innovations like transitioning three patient units into psychiatric intensive care units in April to improve care and interventions.  

“The culture at OSH must change if we hope to ensure accountability and provide the highest quality of care for every person admitted to OSH. There is no other option,” said OHA Acting Director Kris Kautz.  

“Our PoC will include strategies from our stabilization plan; many of which have already been implemented,” Baden said. “Two key changes implemented in the past few weeks are designed to provide more support for unit staff and leaders who are responsible for the daily care of patients. That’s our pause on telework for patient-facing staff and managers and mandatory rounding or visits to units by OSH leaders. The goal is increased visibility and improved communication between leadership and staff, as well as patients.”

The stabilization plan was released on April 30. It includes strategies to improve patient daily care and safety specific to three objectives: to decrease the likelihood of sentinel events (events that can lead to harm, injury or death), to improve OSH’s function as a 24/7 hospital, and to provide staff with clearer direction and empowerment to keep patients safe. 

The statement of deficiencies can be found on the OSH website. The document has been redacted. As a medical provider and a HIPAA-covered entity, OSH is prohibited by federal and state privacy law from sharing a patient’s protected health information.

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Oregon To Get Lower-cost, Lifesaving Treatment To People With Rare And Severe Diseases -06/11/25

Oregon to get lower-cost, lifesaving treatment to people with rare and severe diseases 

Stay Safe From Climate Threats, Other Summer Hazards -06/05/25

June 5, 2025

Media contact: Tim Heider, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Stay safe from climate threats, other summer hazards

Preventing drowning, smoke exposure among OHA tips

PORTLAND, Ore.—As the state prepares for the official start of summer June 20, Oregon Health Authority offers resources to help people protect themselves and their families against hazards of the warmer months.

“Seasonal hazards don’t have to be a bummer for your summer,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA’s Public Health Division. “Making some changes that take into account the weather and activities that happen in the summer can prevent illnesses and injuries – and help ensure that you and your loved ones enjoy the season.”

Here are safety tips for protecting yourself and loved ones:

Drowning prevention

• Avoid alcohol when swimming or boating.
• Make sure young swimmers wear life jackets, and always supervise children in and near the water.
• Don't swim alone or in bad weather.
• Be aware of swimming hazards in natural waters—lakes, rivers, streams, ocean—such as extremely cold temperatures, drop-offs, and underwater branches and rocks that create entanglement risks.
• Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk.
• Visit the Safe Kids websites on pool safety and boating safety.

Extreme heat

• Visit air-conditioned places, if possible.
• Use cool compresses, misting, and cool showers and baths, and never leave children in a parked car.
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working outside, avoid alcohol or liquids with large amounts of sugar, and limit caffeine intake. Learn more about preventing heat-related illnesses.

Sun exposure

• Limit sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when ultraviolet (UV) rays are strongest.
• Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15; apply liberally to ears, scalp, lips, neck, tops of feet, and backs of hands at least 20 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply at least every two hours.
• Wear clothing with a tight weave or high-UPF rating.
• Wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses with UV protection and side panels.
• Take breaks in shaded areas.

Wildfires, wildfire smoke

• Avoid vigorous outdoor activity when wildfire smoke is in the air. 
• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• Reduce outdoor activity time for children when wildfire smoke is in the air.
• If you have a central air system, purchase and install a MERV-13 or better filter before wildfire season; set your system to recycle or recirculate the air. 
• Create a cleaner air space in at least one room in your home by purchasing an air filtration device or building your own do-it-yourself device with a box fan and HVAC filters. 
• Reduce other sources of indoor smoke and dust. These can be burning cigarettes, candles, gas, propane, and wood-burning stoves and furnaces, and vacuuming. 
• When driving, run your car’s air conditioner on the recirculate setting. 
• Visit OregonSmoke.org (Spanish site, OregonHumo.org) to find the current air quality. 
• If you have heart or lung disease or respiratory illnesses such as asthma, follow your health care provider’s advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms. 
• Stay hydrated—drink plenty of water. 

Mosquito-borne diseases (West Nile virus)

• Eliminate sources of standing water where mosquitoes breed, such as watering troughs and bird baths.
• Protect yourself during outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active by using mosquito repellants containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus or picaridin, and follow directions on the container.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants in mosquito-infested areas, as well as closed-toed shoes, and tuck pant legs into the tops of socks or boots. Consider using clothing treated with permethrin.
• Visit our website to learn more.

Tick-borne diseases (Lyme disease)

• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and closed-toed shoes, and tuck pant legs into the tops of socks or boots.
• Frequently check your clothing, gear and pets for ticks, and remove them.
• After you get home, check your entire body for ticks, including under the arms, in and around the ears and inside your belly button.
• Visit the CDC's ticks webpage.

Cyanobacteria (harmful algae) blooms

• Avoid areas of water bodies where there are signs of a cyanobacteria bloom, such as water that is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red in color.
• “Benthic” cyanobacteria mats that are attached to rocks or sand can also be green, blue-green, or brownish-red. Benthic mat material can detach and float in the water, accumulate or become dried along the shore.
• Avoid swimming, water-skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and other high-speed water activities in areas of the lake affected by a bloom.
• Watch children and pets to be sure they are not swallowing water or coming in contact with cyanobacteria mats in the water body or washed up on the shore or dried on rocks.
• You can report a bloom, or a cyanoHAB-related human or animal illness, directly to OHA though the forms found on the OHA website. Learn more at http://healthoregon.org/hab.
• Sign up for cyanoHAB advisories here.

Beach bacteria

• Visitors to Oregon beaches where a public health advisory is in place for higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach, or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean.
• Avoid swimming in the ocean if an advisory is in effect or within 48 hours after a rainstorm even if no advisory is in effect. Visit our beach monitoring website to learn more.
• Sign up for beach advisories here.

Foodborne illnesses

• Clean: Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and running water; wash surfaces and utensils after each use; wash fruits and vegetables before peeling.
• Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate; use separate cutting boards, plates and utensils for raw (uncooked) produce and for raw (uncooked) meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, and keep separate from all other foods in the refrigerator.
• Cook: Heat food to the right temperature; use a food thermometer and make sure safe minimum cooking temperatures are reached—145°F for beef, pork, veal and lamb (roast, steak and chops), 160°F for ground meats and eggs, 165°F for all poultry, 145°F for fin fish.
• Chill: Refrigerate foods promptly, especially foods that tend to spoil more quickly within two hours; thaw or marinate foods in the refrigerator, never on the counter or in the kitchen sink.

Health Care Workforce Committee To Host An Educational Webinar June 11 -06/05/25

June 5, 2025

Contact: Amy Bacher,  Amy.Bacher2@oha.oregon.gov (media inquiries)

Contact: Jessica Malstrom, jessica.malstrom@oha.oregon.gov, 541-975-3759 (administrative support)

Health Care Workforce Committee to host an Educational Webinar June 11

What:  Health Care Workforce Committee Educational Webinar

When: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Where: Virtual Meeting Only. The public can join remotely via Zoom or a conference line.

Join ZoomGov Meeting

Meeting ID: 160 254 9310                    

Passcode: 835104

Find your local number: https://www.zoomgov.com/u/aeJJ7gvWQs

Title: Workforce Wellness

Description: This educational webinar will provide an overview of the Surgeon General's framework for Mental Health and wellbeing in the Workplace.  It presents an everyday decision-making tool that can aid leaders at levels in health and social service organizations in understanding how everyday decision can drive wellness and reduce burnout, key elements of staff retention and patient safety and quality. 

Presenters: Lisa Ladendorff, LCSW, Northeast Oregon Network (NEON), Edna Murrieta, MS.Ed, Northeast Oregon Network (NEON)

For more information, please visit the Health Care Workforce Committee’s website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hpa/hp-hcw/pages/index.aspx.

# # #

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:

• 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 contact Jessica Malstrom, jessica.malstrom@oha.oregon.gov, 541-975-3759 at least 48 hours before the meeting.

14.5% Of Oregonians Delayed Or Avoided Health Care In 2024 Due To Growing Cost -06/05/25

June 5, 2025

Media Contact: Franny White, Franny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov, 971-349-3539

14.5% of Oregonians delayed or avoided health care in 2024 due to growing cost

OHA reports track health care spending to help develop solutions

SALEM, Ore. – A pair of new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports find health care costs continue to grow faster than the state and national economies. Meanwhile, a new committee is launching to identify effective ways to make health care more affordable for Oregonians.

One report notes 14.5% of Oregonians delayed or avoided health care due to cost in 2024. This was even more common in Southwest Oregon, where about one in five people delayed care, and dental care was most likely to be deferred statewide.

The second report finds that total health care expenditures between 2022 and 2023, exceeding the state’s 3.4% goal by the highest amount since OHA began collecting data for the Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target program in 2018.  

The Oregon Health Policy Board, a citizen-led body that oversees OHA, is creating the Committee on Health Care Affordability and its related Industry Advisory Committee. The board will appoint the first members of both committees at its June 10 meeting, which will also include the Health Care Cost Growth Target program’s annual public hearing. Members of the public are invited to share their concerns and experiences with health care costs at the hearing. Email written testimony or sign up to speak at HealthCare.CostTarget@oha.oregon.gov.

Real-world impacts

The first report, titled “Impact of Health Care Costs on People in Oregon, 2024,” draws from a variety of sources such as OHA’s Oregon Health Insurance Survey.

While 14.5% of Oregonians delayed or avoided health care due to cost in 2024, the report notes that delaying care isn’t always an option, “as medical conditions or injuries when left untreated can become life-threatening.” Even though a record 97% of people in Oregon had health insurance in 2024, 11% were unable to pay their medical bills in the past year.

“For people with limited assets, as well as those with considerable medical needs, debt can accumulate over time,” the report reads. “Even a small, unexpected medical bill can become unaffordable.”

For the more than half of insured Oregonians who have commercial health insurance, the average employer-sponsored family plan cost $22,796 in 2023. People paid almost 10% of the median household income to cover their employer-sponsored family plan’s premiums and deductibles in 2023. While that’s an improvement over 2019, when 13.5% of the state’s medium household income paid for family coverage, the report notes the change was likely due to growing incomes rather than declining insurance costs.

The report also notes Oregon households of their 2023 budget on health-related expenses, more than any other category including housing, utilities and fuel. This includes everything household members directly spent on their health care as well as money spent by third parties such as employer contributions to their care. Average health care spending reached $9,255 per person in Oregon during 2023.

Costs growing slower in Oregon

The second report, titled "Health Care Cost Growth Trends in Oregon, 2022-2023,” tracks the state’s progress toward meeting its Health Care Cost Growth Target. The goal of a 3.4% annual average increase per person was established in 2021. Each year, OHA collects and analyzes data from health insurance companies, hospital systems and others to measure what people and organizations in Oregon collectively spend on health care.

Oregon’s total health care expenditures grew 5.2% per person between 2022 and 2023, nearly two percentage points above Oregon’s 3.4% goal. Meanwhile, other states recently reported having even higher health care cost growth between 2022 and 2023. For example, Utah had 6.6%, Connecticut 7.8%, Massachusetts 8.6% and Delaware 9.1%.  

When looking at Oregon’s different insurance markets, the report notes that Medicaid costs grew 9%, Medicare increased 7.8% and commercial grew 6.4% between 2022 and 2023. Total health care expenditures per Oregonian on Medicare – which covers older adults and people with disabilities – was more than double than per person on Medicaid or a commercial plan.

Oregon’s health care cost growth was largely driven by increased prices for health services, medication and more, the report concludes. Cost growth for Oregon’s Medicaid plan was primarily the result of state policies to permanently increase the state’s Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health care and to temporarily increase funding for some hospitals that were hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drugs administered at a doctor’s office, also known as medical pharmacy, was the service category with the greatest statewide growth and increased 12.6% between 2022 and 2023. Treatments for cancer and age-related macular degeneration top the list of total dollars Oregonians spent on in-office drugs in 2023.

Later this year, OHA will publish detailed data on how costs grew for individual medical groups, health systems and other provider organizations between 2022 and 2023. OHA will also determine whether insurance companies, health systems and medical groups that exceeded the cost growth target between 2022 and 2023 did so for an acceptable reason. Organizations that exceed the target without an acceptable reason will be required to develop a performance improvement plan.

Community Spirit, Determination Brings New Dental Clinic To Brookings -06/02/25

June 2, 2025

Media Contact: Franny White, Franny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov, 971-349-3539

Community spirit, determination brings new dental clinic to Brookings

Equity Dental, AllCare Health, OHA, ODS Community Dental, community work together to expand care access in Southern Oregon

BROOKINGS, Ore. -- Sometimes the saying “it takes a village” applies to getting your teeth cleaned.

Just ask the small, determined group that helped launch a new dental clinic in Brookings, a Southern Oregon coastal hamlet home to nearly 6,700 people.

Equity Dental, a dentist-owned company that has nine clinics throughout Oregon, opened its Brookings clinic in October 2024. That’s more than five years after Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and AllCare Health staff brainstormed ways to help more people in Curry County receive timely, quality dental care.

A new option

Located inside the Brookings home of Coast Community Health Center, which will soon be known as Adapt Integrated Health Center, the clinic offers a new option for residents who have struggled to see a dentist. To date, the clinic has served more than 750 patients.

Kevin Roeckl, 68, of Brookings, appreciates having routine preventive care at Equity Dental’s new clinic. Roeckl’s teeth accumulate dental plaque quickly and need regular cleanings. Before Equity Dental opened, Roeckl said appointments at another clinic were often canceled because that clinic was short-staffed.

“Thank goodness we have another option,” Roeckl said. “I’ve had wonderful experiences with Equity Dental. They’re very helpful, caring and responsive. We just love them.”

Link to: Equity Dental, Brookings Oregon, Dr Pete Lahti

Connecting communities with care

The clinic became a reality thanks to a $243,000 grant to cover some of Equity Dental’s initial operating costs and to attract a new dentist. The OHA Oral Health Workforce Grant Program awarded the funding after receiving a grant from a U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration program that connects skilled providers with communities in need. The clinic “couldn’t have started without OHA” and “the grant was absolutely make or break,” according to Adam Bratland, Equity Dental’s chief operating officer.

Curry is the state’s southwestern-most county and a designated health professional shortage area for dental, primary care and mental health professionals. A number of factors make recruiting health care providers challenging: the remote location can become isolated when winter storms flood roadways, affordable housing is limited, and there are few professional opportunities for providers’ spouses.

Returning to the coast

Pete Lahti, D.M.D., became the clinic’s dentist after graduating from the Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry in June 2024. While he grew up in Lincoln City, Lahti didn’t plan on returning to the Oregon Coast after dental school. Even so, he decided to take the Brookings opportunity after visiting the welcoming town and speaking with enthusiastic Equity Dental leaders like co-founder Mike Bratland, D.M.D.

“It’s been challenging to open a new clinic, but also very rewarding,” Lahti said. “Our patients are very grateful, and I’m grateful to Equity Dental for having the courage to see this through.”

Collaborative problem solving

The clinic is a direct result of close collaboration between OHA Oral Health Workforce Coordinator Jon McElfresh and Laura McKeane, who long served as the senior director of oral health services at AllCare, a coordinated care organization that connects Southern Oregonian Medicaid members with health care. McKeane is now a Medicaid quality of care analyst at OHA.

The two met in 2018 to discuss Curry County’s dental challenges. OHA has long used federal funding to support health care professionals working in Oregon’s rural and underrepresented communities. The challenge was to find a way to attract more oral health providers to Southern Oregon. Years later, McKeane learned Equity Dental wanted to open a new clinic and connected the company with McElfresh.

“There were a few times that we almost gave up,” McElfresh acknowledged. “We put a lot of blood and tears into bringing this clinic to Brookings. It’s rewarding to see it open and providing much-needed dental care.”

The project’s many key partners included Dave Gilmore, who was the interim chief operating officer at Coast Community Health, which offered Equity Dental an open space in their building. AllCare Health also secured a contract with the dental care organization ODS Community Dental that enabled Equity Dental to serve Medicaid patients.

Brookings now has two clinics that accept Medicaid insurance. Equity Dental also accepts private insurance and cares for patients who pay out of pocket.

When Lahti moved to Brookings, the town gained more than one health professional. Lahti’s fiancé, Alexa Hanson, has joined Curry Medical Center as an occupational therapist. Hanson said she likely would not have considered relocating to the area if her fiancé hadn’t had the opportunity to open the new clinic.

Oregon Health Authority and AllCare Health worked with many community partners to expand access to timely, quality dental care in Oregon’s South Coast. After more than five years of problem solving, Equity Dental was able to open a new clinic in Brookings in October 2024. Pete Lahti, D.M.D., is the presiding dentist at the new clinic. Courtesy of AllCare Health.

OHA Kicks Off 2025 Oregon Beach Monitoring Season -05/29/25

OHA kicks off 2025 Oregon beach monitoring season

Oregon Health Authority Hires Interim Oregon State Hospital Superintendent -05/28/25

May 28, 2025

Media Contact: Amber Shoebridge amber.shoebridge@oha.oregon.gov 503-931-9586

Oregon Health Authority hires interim Oregon State Hospital superintendent

Salem, Ore. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has hired James Diegel as the interim superintendent for Oregon State Hospital (OSH). His first day will be June 4. Diegel will take over from Acting Superintendent Dave Baden, OHA deputy director of policy and programs, who has served in the interim role since April 14.

“Jim brings years of expertise, skill and compassion as a hospital administrator in Oregon, Hawaii and Washington, D.C., and has valued experience working with regulatory agencies like The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission,” said OHA Interim Director Kris Kautz. “I am confident he will lead the hospital through the ongoing CMS survey process with successful results, as well as continue to build off the work plan Dave has started and continue to help the OSH team ensure that all patients receive the care they deserve in a safe environment.”

The recruitment process for a permanent superintendent is ongoing. Diegel’s role as interim director will enable the hospital and its staff to continue executing steps laid out by Acting Superintendent Dave Baden. Baden will continue his role as OHA deputy director.

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When In Doubt, Stay Out: Increasing Temperatures Create Potential For Toxins In Water -05/22/25

When in doubt, stay out: Increasing temperatures create potential for toxins in water 

Oregon Overdose Deaths Are Down, CDC Data Shows -05/16/25

May 16, 2025

Media contact: Erica Heartquist, 503-871-8843, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Oregon overdose deaths are down, CDC data shows

OHA continues to focus on programs with proven impact to get at root causes of addiction, address behavioral health needs across Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon’s overdose deaths decreased 22% between December 2023 and December 2024, a trend similar to that experienced nationwide, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.

“It is heartening to see this decrease in deaths due to overdose in Oregon, but the total still remains far too high, impacting families and communities across our state,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at the OHA Public Health Division. “We must continue to work together to keep people safe and build treatment and recovery supports for people struggling with substance use disorder.”

The count is still much higher than pre-pandemic years, with 1,480 deaths within that one-year time span, CDC data show. The preliminary data signify a decrease in fatal and nonfatal overdoses in Oregon from 2023 to 2024.

The decreasing trend is likely due to a combination of factors, including strengthened substance use treatment infrastructure, naloxone distribution and education, prevention programs, and changes in the illicit drug supply with less fentanyl overall.  This is good news, officials say, but work to reduce drug use and overdose is as important as ever.

While a decrease in overdose deaths is notable, Oregon’s substance use and overdose rates represent an ongoing and complex public health crisis created by multiple social, economic and systemic factors. Implementing a population health approach includes both upstream and downstream initiatives that can decrease substance use initiation and promote improved quality of life and well-being among Oregonians.

Some specific investments that are contributing to Oregon’s decrease in overdoses include the following:

Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse

• The Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse works with any organization that wants support in responding to the fentanyl crisis. The Clearinghouses began with six agencies and now works with more than 380 agencies across the state. All these agencies are locally oriented. These partnerships are with diverse groups that meet members of the community in a wide range of settings and circumstances.

Opioid treatment programs

• Oregon has been steadily increasing the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs). There are 27 full-service OTPs in Oregon, two OTP medication units, and four mobile OTP units. This includes nine new OTP sites over the last biennium.
• Oregon also expanded telehealth for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and removed of prior authorizations for MOUD.

Residential treatment capacity

• In June 2024, OHA published a landmark study on the state’s residential treatment capacity. That study has been the foundation for immediate and long-term investments to increase residential capacity across the state. Currently, 260 beds dedicated to SUD treatment are in development and 41 beds dedicated to withdrawal management are in development.

Behavioral Health Regional Networks (BHRNs)

• BHRNs are funded through cannabis tax revenue, Drug Treatment and Recovery Services Funds. Between 2022 and 2025, $414 million has been allocated to BHRNs statewide.
• BHRNs assess their communities’ needs and tailor programming and services across six core areas: screening and assessment, harm reduction, housing services, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, supported employment and peer support services.
• Engagement across every category of service has grown steadily since 2022, with particularly notable increases for peer support services, SUD treatment, and harm reduction services

Investment in the peer support services and system

• Peer services for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) in Oregon are designed to provide support, guidance and encouragement from individuals who have lived experience with recovery.
• These services foster connection, reduce stigma and empower individuals on their recovery journey.
• Programs supported by the OHA focus on harm reduction, recovery planning and building healthy relationships.
• These services are available in every county.

About Oregon Health Authority:

Oregon Health Authority is committed to advancing health equity, improving the health of people in Oregon and ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care.

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Mental Health Awareness Month Spotlight: Loneliness Line Supports Seniors -05/15/25

May 15, 2025

Media Contact:  Kim Lippert, Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov, 971-323-3831

Mental Health Awareness Month Spotlight: Loneliness line supports seniors

PORTLAND, Ore.– When Carli Cox picks up the phone, she never knows who will be on the other end, but she knows why she’s answering.   As a Crisis Intervention Specialist at Lines for Life, Cox is one of the voices providing support to people facing behavioral health challenges including loneliness.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, Oregon Health Authority is highlighting its partnership with Lines for Life. OHA provides funding for six crisis and support lines, including the Senior Loneliness Line.  This service offers older Oregonians connection and emotional support amid growing concerns about social isolation in aging populations.

“The Senior Loneliness Line is unique,” Cox said. “It functions both as a warm line for friendly conversation and as a space for crisis support when needed. We get calls from people who just want to start their day with a voice on the other end, to others who are dealing with isolation, loss, aging related issues, and sometimes suicidal thoughts.”

About 15% of Oregonians are ages 65 years or older, and by 2030 that number will increase to 20%. This age group is experiencing many behavioral health struggles, with one in five individuals experiencing depression at any given time. Males ages 75 and older have the highest suicide rate of any age group and gender.

With more than three years of experience and 4,000 crisis calls under her belt, Cox plays a critical role in helping the aging population.  Older adults often face stigma seeking mental health support, and Cox wants them to know that no problem is too small.

“Many seniors didn’t grow up in a time when talking about mental health was encouraged. We want them to know this line is here for them—it’s safe, confidential, and there’s no need to be in crisis to call.”

The Senior Loneliness Line sees a wide range of callers, from those facing estrangement from family to those who’ve outlived loved ones. Even a single phone call can bring meaningful change.

“Sometimes, you can hear a shift in someone’s voice by the end of a conversation,” said Cox. “Making that connection is so rewarding.”

If you are a senior or know someone who might benefit from the Senior Loneliness Line, please call 1-800-282-7035 or visit https://seniorlonelinessline.org/. For other mental health needs, call, or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

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Oregon Reports Record-high Nonmedical Vaccine Exemptions For Kindergartners -05/15/25

May 15, 2025

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Oregon reports record-high nonmedical vaccine exemptions for kindergartners

But most families continue to vaccinate their kids, OHA officials say

PORTLAND, Ore.—A record 9.7% of kindergartners claimed nonmedical exemptions from Oregon’s school vaccination requirements for the 2024-2025 school year, the highest rate ever recorded in the state, Oregon Health Authority announced today.

The increase continues an upward trend from 8.8% in 2024, when Oregon had the fourth-highest nonmedical exemption rate in the United States, behind Idaho, Alaska and Utah, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National data for the current school year are not yet available.

Data from the Oregon Immunization Program at OHA’s Public Health Division indicates 86.3% of kindergartners were fully vaccinated with all required immunizations for the current school year, down from 86.4% last year, marking three consecutive years of declining vaccination coverage among Oregon’s youngest students. These declining rates raise the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in schools, particularly in communities with lower immunization coverage.

Stacy de Assis Matthews, school immunization coordinator at the Oregon Immunization Program, stressed the critical role of high vaccination rates in protecting public health.

“An immunized community is our most effective defense against diseases such as measles,” Matthews said.  “Robust vaccination coverage not only protects individual children but also safeguards those who cannot be vaccinated due to age, medical conditions, or other vulnerabilities, helping protect our communities in Oregon.”

• To view a video of local public health authority representatives from around Oregon sharing their thoughts about vaccine perceptions in their communities, click here.

Paul Cieslak, M.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA, expressed alarm at the rising exemption rates.

“The increase in nonmedical exemptions weakens community immunity, creating opportunities for outbreaks of serious diseases that vaccines have nearly eradicated,” he said.

Cieslak cited CDC data reporting 1,001 measles cases in the U.S. as of May 8, 2025, with 96% among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.

Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at Oregon Public Health, highlighted the importance of sustaining and strengthening public confidence in vaccination programs.

“Vaccines have transformed public health by dramatically reducing the burden of infectious diseases, enabling children to grow up in safe environments,” Sidelinger said. “The growing trend of nonmedical exemptions threatens to undo decades of progress and puts us all at risk. OHA is committed to providing accessible, science-based information to empower families to choose vaccination.”

Despite the rise in exemptions, Matthews emphasized that the vast majority of Oregon families continue to get childhood immunizations. For students across all grades, from kindergarten through 12th grade, 90.4% were fully vaccinated in 2025.

“Parents and guardians recognize the essential role vaccines play in keeping schools and communities free from diseases like measles, polio, and pertussis,” she said. Oregon’s immunization laws help protect more than 650,000 students in schools and child care programs. “Every child’s immunization record is checked yearly, helping ensure equitable vaccine access for all Oregon children.”

Updated kindergarten immunization and exemption rates for the 2024-2025 school year are available at Oregon Immunization Coverage. Spreadsheets detailing immunization rates for individual schools and child care facilities are also accessible, with 2025 updates to interactive maps forthcoming.

Vaccination resources for families: 

• Information on immunization requirements in 17 languages can be found on the OHA website.
• Families seeking vaccines can contact 211 or their local health department. 211Info offers support in English and Spanish, with interpreter services in multiple languages.
• The Vaccines for Children program provides low- or no-cost immunizations for children ages 0-18 who are enrolled in Oregon Health Plan, uninsured, and/or American Indian/Alaska Native. 

Increasing awareness and education about primary prevention, public health risks and preventive health services are among actions OHA is taking as part of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. The plan further supports expanding access to vaccines and other health resources for children, parents and families in all communities in Oregon.

About OHA: Oregon Health Authority is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Oregonians through evidence-based public health initiatives, including robust immunization programs. 

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Syphilis During Pregnancy On The Rise, Leading To Serious Health Complications For Infants -05/13/25

May 13, 2025

Media Contact: Erica Heartquist, 503-871-8843, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Syphilis during pregnancy on the rise, leading to serious health complications for infants

OHA public health physician says coordinated action, increased awareness and commitment to equitable care can help protect those most at risk

PORTLAND, Ore. —Health care providers in Oregon are deeply concerned that congenital syphilis rates continue to rise at an alarming pace, according to preliminary 2024 Oregon Health Authority data. This is despite overall rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Oregon stabilizing in recent years.

In 2014, Oregon recorded two cases of congenital syphilis. By 2024, that number had surged to 45—a staggering 2,150% increase—according to data analyzed by the HIV, STD and TB Section at OHA’s Public Health Division.

“Although rates of syphilis infections in Oregon have decreased in line with national trends, the rate of syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy is increasing, resulting in more infants affected by this preventable disease,” said Pete Singson, M.D., OHA’s HIV, STD and TB medical director.

“Congenital syphilis cases remain concentrated in urban areas, but we’re seeing a growing number of syphilis cases during pregnancy in rural and frontier counties,” Singson explained. “Half of the 2024 congenital syphilis cases were outside the Portland metro area.”

Pregnant people in the Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latino populations in Oregon are disproportionately represented in this epidemic.

Singson said it’s critical to understand that these disparities are not due to race or ethnicity, but rather by the compounded effects of systemic racism, poverty, houselessness and stigma.

The risks of untreated syphilis during pregnancy include miscarriage, growth abnormalities, premature birth and fetal death. In a newborn, nearly every organ system can be affected, and severe cases can result in neonatal death. Providers have limited experience diagnosing syphilis due to its historically low prevalence, Singson said, which makes diagnosis even more challenging.

OHA is encouraging providers to work closely with local public health authorities to ensure patients complete their treatment, and to facilitate the testing and treatment of people with whom the patients have had sexual contact. Singson said OHA is aligned with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidance in recommending that all pregnant people be universally screened at three timepoints during their pregnancy: their first prenatal visit, at 28 weeks, and at the time of delivery.

Addressing this crisis requires not only a concerted effort to educate providers and communities but also expanding screening, treatment and access to care.

“With coordinated action, increased awareness and commitment to equitable care, we can end this crisis and protect future generations of Oregonians,” said Singson.

Increasing awareness and education about primary prevention, public health risks and preventive health services are among actions OHA is taking as part of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. The plan further supports expanding access to vaccines and other health resources for children, parents and families in all communities in Oregon.

To hear Dr. Singson talk about the dangers of congenital syphilis, click here.

Pete Singson, M.D., OHA’s HIV, STD and TB medical director

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