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MEMBER UPDATE
OCTOBER 2025
| | The Oregon Primary Care Association's October newsletter notes the opportunity for community health centers to participate in discussions with the Oregon Health Authority, the release of OPCA's 2024-2025 Annual Report, and upcoming learning opportunities in the Training and Events section! | |
A YEAR OF MOMENTUM, 2024 - 2025 | | |
OPCA is now halfway through our three-year strategic plan. While the path forward has been filled with surprises, our team has made steady progress that’s quickly turning into momentum that will sustain our next phase of work.
At OPCA, we’re not waiting to be invited to the table — we’re setting it. And we’re making sure Oregon’s community health centers have a seat, a voice, and the data to lead the conversations.
Thank you for walking this path with us. The road to a healthy Oregon is long, but we are making significant progress together.
Read the Annual Report, 2024 - 2025
| | OPCA Policy, Regulatory, and Advocacy Call | | We are bringing back our monthly Policy, Regulatory, and Advocacy Call! Join OPCA's policy team to get the latest updates on policy changes, regulatory shifts, and advocacy efforts that directly affect Oregon's community health centers. | | |
Cadence
Occurs the second
Tuesday of every month
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM starting
Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
| | | Key Notices and Upcoming Briefings | | OHP adoption of WCHA guidance on respiratory vaccines | |
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will adopt the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) 2025-2026 Respiratory Virus Season Immunization Recommendations for Oregon Health Plan (OHP) vaccine coverage. The Oregon Immunization Program (OIP) has adopted the WCHA recommendations to:
- Ensure consistency with regional best practices and
- Support OHP and OIP’s shared goal of improving access to preventive care for all Oregonians.
| |  | Medicaid in Focus: Conversation with Oregon Health Authority | |
October 8, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM PST
Free Virtual Webinar
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Join OPCA for an FQHC Briefing with the Oregon Health Authority. Discussion topics include the current status of the Healthier Oregon Program (HOP), strategies to mitigate harms from H.R. 1 implementation, the shift of the CCO Quality Pool to rates, and the future of the Rural Health Fund.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from OHA leaders and engage in issues that matter most to health centers.
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CiS Process Webinar
October 15, 2025
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM PT
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Change in Scope Webinar
OPCA, in conjunction with the Oregon Health Authority, will be hosting a webinar on the Change in Scope (CiS) process.
This webinar is OPEN TO ALL CHCS, and will walk clinics through what will happen each step of the process after they have submitted their CiS application to OHA. It will explain the CiS queue tracker, what to expect at each step in the process, and at what stages to reach out to either OPCA or OHA. Additionally, OHA will also discuss the process for applying for Out-Stationed Outreach Worker (OSOW) funding.
The webinar will be held on October 15, 9:30-10:30 AM. Speakers for this webinar will be OPCA’s APCM Program Manager, Torie Baldwin, and OHA’s Safety Net Policy Analyst, Adrienne Cooke. We encourage any clinic that is considering a CiS to listen in.
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JOIN THE OREGON NETWORK OF CHCS | | |
Ada Catanzarite,
Quality Improvement
Senior Manager
| | the ACO Quality Payment Program | |
is if you can prove to us that you're providing care effectively and efficiently by saving the system money, we will share that savings with you.
Learn about The Network and the Data Platform
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This annual event brings together Oregon’s 34 community health centers for connection, shared learning, and system transformation. Expect engaging plenaries, practical breakouts, and networking with FQHC professionals and partners from across the state.
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Joanna Peterson at jpeterson@orpca.org.
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Perinatal Health Symposium
SAVE THE DATE
February 20, 2026
World Forestry Center
Portland, Oregon
The Oregon Primary Care Association will host a Perinatal Health Symposium on February 20, 2026, at the World Forestry Center in Portland. The event will bring together Oregon’s FQHC leaders and care teams to strengthen perinatal health delivery, workflows, and capacity.
We’re seeking one additional advisory committee member from a rural health center to help shape the event's learning objectives and speakers. The commitment is 2–3 virtual meetings between now and February.
Interested? Email Joanna Peterson, Program Manager, at jpeterson@orpca.org.
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STI & PrEP Forum (SPF)
by the HIV/STI Program at OPCA
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NEXT SESSION
October 1, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
Free Virtual Webinars
| Questions? Contact Ashley Allison at aallison@orpca.org. | | | |
The Wellbeing Starts Local Workshop
by ORCHID
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Friday, October 3, 2025
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM PST
Included in registration for the
Oregon Rural Health Conference, or $100 for the workshop only
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HIV Rapid Start Community of Practice
by the HIV/STI Program at OPCA
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NEXT SESSION
October 14, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
Free Virtual Webinars
| Questions? Contact Rayna Appenzeller at rappenzeller@orpca.org. | | | |
Foundations of Substance Use Disorder
by Project ECHO
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Wednesdays | Oct - Dec, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
Free Virtual Webinars
| This program is funded by SAMHSA through the Oregon Health Authority. | | | |
2025 OHSU Health Literacy Symposium
by OHSU Center for Ethics in Health Care
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Thursday, October 16, 2025
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM PST
In-Person
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Questions? Contact Samantha Birk at
strain@ohsu.edu.
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2025 HIV Continuum
of Care Conference
by the HIV/STI Program at OPCA
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October 21 - 22, 2025
Multi-day Virtual Event
Free to Attend
| Questions? Contact Dayna Morrison at dmorrison@orpca.org. | | | |
Pushing for Better Care: Perinatal Services
The journey into parenthood is one of life's most transformative experiences, and it begins well before delivery day. From prenatal care and education to postpartum support, Oregon's Community Health Centers provide perinatal services to ensure families have access to compassionate, comprehensive care at every step of the journey, and for the rest of their lives.
Today, OPCA is illustrating Oregon CHCs' role in supporting maternal and infant health, and how our team is partnering with the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative to support FQHCs delivering care to this population.
Resources, tools, and upcoming learning opportunities mentioned in this blog are available in the CHC Toolbox section.
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Medical & Behavioral Health Leadership Groups Gathering
November 6, 2025
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM PST
OHSU Health Family Medicine
East Portland Community Health Center
This event will bring together FQHC Medical and Behavioral Health Leadership to collaborate, share knowledge, and spark innovation.
What to Expect
The agenda is still forming, but will include:
- Didactic Presentation: A relevant topic designed for both Medical and BH leaders.
- Policy Updates: Key developments impacting integrated care.
- Case Presentations: Real-world examples to ground discussion.
- Open Exchange: Time for colleague-to-colleague sharing and problem-solving.
This event is limited to FQHC Medical Directors and Behavioral Health Directors.
Medical Leaders and Behavioral Health Leaders Registration
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CHC HAPPENINGS & IN THE NEWS | |
Winding Waters participates in the West Coast Health Alliance Briefing on Vaccine Recommendations
Elizabeth Powers, M.D., family medicine physician and local public health officer at Winding Waters Clinic, a federally qualified health center in Wallowa County, participated in the briefing with the West Coast Health Alliance regarding recommendations for influenza vaccines and RSV immunizations, which are similar to last season, with minor updates to RSV products.
Read OHA News Release
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Share What's Happening
Amplify the work of your health center through OPCA to further visibility and awareness of your impact. Contact communications@orpca.org.
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| www.orpca.org | info@orpca.org | Contact Us | | | | |
