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Monitoring Federal Changes and any Impacts on Oregon

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Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is actively assessing federal changes and actions for any impact that they have on Oregonians. OHA is committed to making sure people in every Oregon community can access the health care and other services they need.

Current status Changes in OHA programs Immigration help Other resources

Current status

Federal Shutdown

Nov. 13, 2025

The federal government shutdown has ended.

Oregon's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program continues to provide services and benefits without interruptions. The Regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have resumed.

Changes in OHA programs

Gender-affirming health care is protected under Oregon law, including by the Reproductive Health Equity Act of 2017 and 2023's Oregon House Bill 2002. The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and many private health insurance plans in Oregon cover medically necessary care that affirms an individual's gender identity according to accepted standards of care. 

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is actively monitoring and assessing changes at the federal level for any impact on accessing quality, affordable health care in Oregon. Despite uncertainty at the federal level, OHA will continue to do everything it can to ensure everyone in Oregon can receive the vital and compassionate health care they need and deserve. 

OHA is aware the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have proposed two rules to prohibit federal reimbursement for gender-affirming care provided to people under 18 who are covered by Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and to also block federal Medicaid and Medicare funding for facilities that provide gender-affirming care in specific instances.  

These proposed rules seek to limit access to care and the ability of medical professionals to support patients in certain health care settings. OHA is actively assessing what these proposed rules could mean for Oregon. The proposed federal rules do not go into effect right away because the federal government must first receive and consider public comment. Because of this, OHA wants to be clear that there are no changes to Medicaid or gender-affirming care in Oregon as a result of these proposed rules right now. 

These proposed changes cause fear, uncertainty and real distress for transgender youth, their families and the providers who care for them. OHA is actively assessing the proposed rule for impacts to Oregonians. If you feel strongly about these rules, you can provide public comment through the federal webpage when the rules are officially published, which is expected Dec. 19.  

Gender-affirming care is health care that meets people's physical, mental and social health needs while respectfully affirming their gender identity. It is care that a medical professional determines is medically appropriate to support the overall health of their patient. 

OHA is determined to protect and preserve fundamental health freedoms in Oregon and believes that health care is an essential human right for everyone - including transgender and gender-diverse people.    

For more information about what state law says about gender-affirming care, visit the Oregon Department of Justice's webpage.

For more information about gender-affirming care coverage under Oregon's Medicaid program, visit the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) webpage. If an OHP member has a concern about receiving gender-affirming care, they should contact their Coordinated Care Organization (CCO). Those who do not have a CCO or need further assistance can also contact OHA Client Services (1-800-273-0557, Ask.OHP@odhsoha.oregon.gov) or the OHA Ombuds Program (1-877-642-0450, OHA.OmbudsOffice@odhsoha.oregon.gov).

For more information about private health plan requirements, please visit the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Division of Financial Regulation webpage.   

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Information for Oregon Health Plan members and providers about future changes to Medicaid is located at this web site.

OHA information about Federal Request for Oregon Health Plan member Data

You may have seen reports that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is sharing Medicaid data with immigration enforcement officials. We understand that these reports have caused deep fear, frustration, and anger across our communities.

On July 30, 2025, OHA submitted initial narrative responses to CMS describing how OHA appropriately spends federal dollars on Medicaid services. This submission did not include Personally Identifiable Information. In accordance with federal regulations, OHA is required to work with CMS on federally required reporting and will continue to assess and respond to CMS as part of this request.

Oregon has joined a multistate lawsuit seeking to prevent CMS from continuing to share protected Medicaid information with the Department of Homeland Security.

Effective Sept. 17, 2025, you can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription in Oregon. Check with your pharmacy for availability. COVID-19 vaccines are also available at medical clinics and at your doctor's office. Learn more here.

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H.R. 1, signed into federal law in July 2025, prohibits certain entities that provide reproductive health services from receiving federal Medicaid funds for one year. Two Planned Parenthood affiliates in Oregon - Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette (PPCW) and Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon (PPSO) – meet the definition of prohibited entities.

Oregon joined a coalition of 22 states and Washington, D.C., to sue the Trump Administration over this action. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) also sued the Trump administration. On July 28, a U.S. District Judge ordered the federal government to continue reimbursing Planned Parenthood facilities through Medicaid.

PPSO and PPCW may submit claims for all services provided to any Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) and Reproductive Health Access Fund (RHAF) enrolled client and have those claims processed in the usual manner. PPCW and PPSO clinics are continuing to accept OHP and RHAF enrolled clients. There are no changes to available services at this time.

OHA, as well as Planned Parenthood, are committed to regular updates as we learn more about the impacts of the prohibited entity provision of H.R.1.

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The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace helps individuals and families get coverage that fits their needs and budget. It is the state’s pathway to coverage through HealthCare.gov, where Oregonians can compare plans and apply for financial help.

The Marketplace serves people who don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or have access to affordable coverage through an employer. In 2024, thousands of Oregonians received subsidies that helped lower the cost of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.

Marketplace coverage has not changed and financial assistance remains available. Current enrollees should keep their scheduled appointments, use their benefits as usual, and update their information during open enrollment or if something in their life changes – like their income, a move, or a change to their household. New applicants can explore coverage options and apply through HealthCare.gov or get help from certified insurance agents or community partners.

Effective August 25, 2025, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients will no longer be eligible to enroll in Marketplace coverage. DACA recipients who are currently enrolled through the Marketplace will be disenrolled on Oct. 1, 2025. This change is part of the federal Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule and applies nationwide—even in Oregon—ending earlier eligibility granted beginning Nov. 1, 2024.

OHA wants DACA recipients to be aware of their options to pay for health care:

  • Individuals can enroll directly through an insurance company regardless of immigration status. Health insurance companies are not allowed to ask questions about citizenship and immigration status. DACA recipients can enroll in a health plan directly through an insurance company at full cost regardless of immigration status.
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide wide-ranging care—including medical, dental, mental health, and preventive services—regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. FQHCs use a sliding fee scale based on income and currently serve anyone, including people without insurance. Find a FQHC at orhim.info/FQHC.
  • Not-for-profit health systems financial assistance programs. Depending on household income, DACA recipients may qualify for free health care or care at a sliding scale. This program is available at not-for-profit hospitals, health systems, and affiliated clinics. This financial help is available whether they have health coverage or not and applies after insurance is billed. When a patient receives care from a participating facility, they should request cost financial assistance.

Most Oregon hospitals and their health systems and affiliated clinics are not-for profit. Some examples of non-participating facilities are Zoom Care, McKenzie Willamette (Eugene), Willamette Valley (McMinnville), some standalone urgent care offices, and ambulatory surgery centers. These facilities may have other financial assistance programs.

This information has been shared with Marketplace Community Partners and Insurance Agents to help DACA recipients understand plan options and give them advice. For more information, including eligibility, plan comparisons, and how to enroll, visit the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace website (OregonHealthCare.gov) or call the Marketplace’s toll-free number at 855-268-3767 (all relay calls accepted).


​​Enhanced Premium Tax Credit Expiration in Oregon (PDF)​​

A federal district court judge issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by 23 states, including Oregon, against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over the termination of public health and behavioral health grants, without cause or authority. This ruling ensures federal funding can continue flowing while litigation proceeds. 

HHS, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), had abruptly terminated roughly $117 million in COVID-era grants and funding for Oregon Health Authority programs, an impact that would have been felt in all nine federally recognized Tribal communities and in every county in Oregon. To learn about what programs were impacted by the reductions, click here

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  • ​​​OHA continues to be guided by its strategic plan to eliminate health inequities by 2030. Achieving this goal would ensure that all people i​n Oregon can reach their full health potential and do not face disadvantages due to where they live or their race, ethnicity, spoken language, disability, immigration status​, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or social class. OHA is determined to remove unfair barriers that limit health care access and lead to health disparities for too many Oregonians.
  • ​​Attorney General Dan​ Rayfield has issued a statement on Multi-State Guidance here: Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiative
    • The guidance covers the following sections:
      1. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiatives Help Busine​sses Prevent Workplace Discrimination
      2. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Initiatives are Consistent with Federal and State Law
      3. Best Practices for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
      4. Recruitment and Hiring​
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There have been no changes to OHP billing or services, due to recent federal announcements. The Medicaid payment system was offline temporarily on Jan. 28, but is back up.

Medicaid partners and providers are encouraged to take proactive steps to safeguard Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to ensure operational continuity. Cyber resilience is a shared responsibility that extends to all state employees, volunteers, providers, contractors and vendors. Member data, including Race Ethnicity Language and Disability Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (REALD SOGI) and immigration data, should not be shared with anyone, including with federal authorities without a subpoena.   ​

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Immigration help

Oregon's Sanctuary Promise

Oregon has laws that help protect all people, no matter where they are from. ODHS workers follow these laws and will only share your immigration information if the law says they must.

You can:

Public charge

If you are applying for a green card or other legal status, immigration officials may look at whether you need help from the government. This is called the public charge test.

Most benefits do not count against you, but it's important to know which ones do.

Call the Oregon Public Benefits Hotline to talk with someone about your situation (800-520-5292, Monday–Thursday).

Other resources