Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hati wants to improve Oregon’s health care system, including keeping rural hospitals open, helping the homeless and testing children for lead poisoning.
This week, as she toured Oregon during her first six months in office, she released a report outlining 16 broad goals that emerged from meetings with health care leaders from more than a dozen cities in the state. announced. One of Hattie’s goals is to reduce bureaucracy for mental health and addiction treatment professionals and ensure local public health agencies have enough staff to test and treat Oregonians for sexually transmitted diseases. It’s something to do.
Community leaders met with Mr. Hashi in Astoria, Bend, The Dalles, Eugene, Hood River, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Lebanon, Medford, Pendleton, Portland, Redmond and Salem. , complained of these and other issues. Hattie’s report lists more than 60 issues that local leaders want addressed and 16 areas where state officials are beginning to address needs. These include ways to make health care more accessible and support health care providers serving Oregon’s most vulnerable populations, including residents facing homelessness and mental health issues. I am.
“Many of these challenges are long-standing and complex, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make meaningful progress, even incrementally,” Dr. Hattie said in a statement. “The feedback we receive from these communities is moving concrete steps forward at OHA to remove barriers and improve outcomes. Our staff has helped us better serve all Oregonians. We are grateful to both our partners.”
Hattie began his role as the agency’s director in January and is nearing the end of his first year on the job.
Let’s look at some goals here.
In rural eastern Oregon, officials expressed concern about hospital and clinic closures. In Baker City, St. Alphonsus Medical Center closed its maternity ward, forcing parents to drive about 74 miles away to give birth. The agency is studying state and federal policies to find ways to further support local health facilities and reduce the risk of closure.
In southern Oregon, local residents urged Hashi to do more to ensure children are tested for lead exposure. In response, the Oregon Health Authority is ensuring that health care providers are reimbursed when they perform lead tests on Medicaid enrollees who provide health care to approximately 1.4 million low-income Oregonians. We have begun work on developing new rules to ensure this.
The agency also wants to increase the uptake of pediatric blood lead testing among youth on Medicaid and set that goal in its strategic plan.
In the Willamette Valley, local public health agencies said they need more funding for testing for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. Health officials are working on strategies to make more funding available, including from federal funds.
Health officials also want to make it easier for doulas to receive payment through Medicaid. Doulas provide non-medical support to pregnant women during and after pregnancy. Health officials plan to raise funds to expand doula locations in the community. Individual doulas can participate in the hub and receive more administrative support when navigating the Medicaid billing system.
Health officials have two more plans for Medicaid. The agency will provide detailed guidance to health care providers on how to bill Medicaid when providing care to people who are homeless or living on the street. In 2023, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made new billing codes available for providers to bill for outpatient services to homeless people.
The Oregon Health Authority plans to help organizations and community health care providers be reimbursed by Medicaid. Community health workers are on the front lines of healthcare, helping patients access the programs and services they need. They often use their background and experience to engage and build trust with the people they serve.
— Ben Botkin, Oregon Capital Chronicle
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