News & Stories for Oregonians
Vaccine guidance The governors of Oregon, California, Hawaii and Washington formed the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) to safeguard scientific expertise and vaccine access for people living in those states. Find full details about their vaccination guidance in the WCHA 2025–2026 Respiratory Virus Season Immunization Recommendations. COVID 19 Infants and children: The WCHA recommends that […]
Challenges brought to light by more than 80 Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid) members have helped reduce barriers to obtain medically necessary motorized wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment. OHP members alerted OHA of the issues by reaching out to OHA’s Ombuds Program staff, who make sure members on Oregon’s Medicaid program receive they […]
While wildfires continue to burn in Oregon, and as we head into storm season we want to remind people across the state to be prepared in the event of a disaster or emergency. Other common emergencies in Oregon include disease outbreaks, landslides, flooding, and storm-related power outages. We also recommend expecting the unexpected—including earthquakes, which […]
Column by Ebony Clarke, Behavioral Health Director, OHA At Oregon Health Authority (OHA), we recognize that recovery is not just an individual journey—it is a community commitment. Recovery means hope. It means the opportunity to rebuild, reconnect, and reclaim one’s life with dignity and support. As we reflect during Recovery Month, we reaffirm our belief […]
A person’s substance use disorder (SUD) or mental health recovery journey may include a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychiatrist, or other trained professionals. It can also include a peer support specialist. Peer support specialists have similar life experiences with the people they serve. For example, they may also be in recovery or they might be […]
As thousands of Oregon students head to college, many will live away from parental oversight for the first time. With the return of football and other sports, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is raising awareness about a growing trend–increasing sports betting among young adults–and encouraging families to talk about gambling risks before students leave home. “Many […]
Tracie Koepplin is clinical manager at Physicians’ Medical Center, PC, in McMinnville. Shortly before her second birthday, Tracie Koepplin was rushed to the hospital because she couldn’t breathe. Turns out she had a rare chronic disease called juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP), aka laryngeal papilloma—caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This condition causes benign tumors […]
As a primary care nurse practitioner (NP), Lisa Whitfield had difficulty finding mental health support for her patients, so she decided to gain the education and training to help fill the gap in mental health services she saw in her community. Whitfield enrolled at Gonzaga University to complete her mental health certification, which required completing […]
