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How to Get Involved

Guidelines for Written and Verbal Testimony 
We value your input on health coverage decisions made by the Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) and its committees, panels, and work groups.

Commissioners and committee members review written and verbal comments for each meeting. This page explains how you can be involved and share your thoughts. For the latest information on our meetings and the topics we’re discussing, visit Meetings and Materials.

The goal of this process is to help make sure covered health services are safe and effective.

First, someone – including you! -  recommends review of a topic. This may be because of a new medical code, a new technology, new or updated medical studies (evidence), or concerns about overlooked issues.

If you'd like to suggest a topic, see “How To Suggest A Topic For Discussion" below.

Once a topic is selected:

  • ​​Staff reviews medical studies (evidence), checks other insurance policies, checks with experts, considers how this topic may affect people who have been harmed by historical injustices, and writes a summary of the key information
  • Subcommittee process
    • The Value-based Benefits Subcommittee (VbBS) reviews the summary, hears public comment and may:
      • Recommend a change,
      • Request more research, or
      • Suggest no change is needed
  • Approval Process
    • HERC reviews VbBS's recommendations. Often, it reviews them on the same day. HERC can accept the recommendation, or change the recommendation and approve the revised version. In other cases it may refer the topic back to a subcommittee for more work, or decide no change is needed.​

​You can share your verbal comments in person at most HERC and committee meetings. Please note: Sometimes meetings are held online only. Check Meetings & Materials  for notices.

Key Points for In-Person Verbal Testimony

  • For comments about agenda items:
    • Public comment usually happens:
      • At the scheduled time for that topic
      • After the group's discussion
      • Before a vote​

Comments for Topics Not on the Agenda If your topic is not on the agenda you can contact us at HERC.info@oha.oregon.gov to make arrangements​

Please note: The Evidence-based Guidelines Subcommittee  only hears comments about topics listed on the agenda.



You can share your verbal comments by video or phone at most ​HERC and committee meetings. Check Meetings & Materials for notices. If your topic is not on the agenda, you can contact us at HERC.info@oha.oregon.gov to make arrangements.


​Key Points for Video or Telephone Verbal Comments

For topics on the agenda, public comment usually happens:

  • At the scheduled time for that topic
  • After the group's discussion of the topic
  • Before a vote
  • ​​Please note: The Evidence-based Guidelines Subcommittee  only hears comments about topics listed on the agenda.​

​​To share your comments in writing for meeting materials available one-week before the meeting:

For Advance Meeting Materials, available 6 weeks before committee meetings:

Key Points:

  • Who Will Read Your Comments: Your comments will be posted on the Commissioner's website and are available for committee members and anyone who is interested.
  • How to Submit:
    • Please don't send comments by US mail – they can't be accepted
    • For non-agenda topics, you can submit up to 1,000 words total per meeting
    • Reference, listed sources and citations don't count toward the word limit
      • If you attach supporting materials (like journal articles) please ensure they are in PDF or Microsoft Word format. Other formats can't be accepted
      • Staff will look at these documents, but they won't be shared with members​

Detailed Reports (Coverage Guidances)

  • For complex topics, the Evidence-based Guidelines Subcommittee (EbGS) creates a detailed report (based on evidence and other facts). This report is reviewed by VbBS and HERC for final decisions.

 We share new reports and public comment dates through our e-Subscribe service. You can sign up by yourself but if you need help, please email herc.info@oha.oregon.gov​.

  • Submit comments to herc.info@oha.oregon.gov  during the formal open comment period to make sure your feedback and any evidence are officially reviewed
  • ​Staff will consider each comment and will include a response to the comment in the meeting materials available online
  • For more details, see  Open for Comment and Overview of the Coverage Guidance development process. Late comments can't be included in the formal review but will be accepted as written testimony (see the How to Share Your Comments in Writing section). Evidence submitted after the comment period will be reviewed based on the Consideration of Evidence Discovered After Formal Comment Period policy.

Comments Outside Formal Comment Periods
If you want to submit comments outside the formal comment periods, you can use the How to Share Your Comments in Writing or How to Share Comments at an In-Person Meeting or How to Comment by Phone or Video topics. Any evidence in these comments will follow the policy for Consideration of Evidence Discovered After Formal Comment Period.


If you're not sure how to suggest a topic for the Commission (HERC), or any of its advisory panels or subcommittees, don't hesitate to reach out! We're here to provide guidance and feedback to support a productive conversation, and we're always happy to help.

To suggest a topic for discussion, please email* us:

  • Your topic of interest and request
  • Your reasons to support coverage
    • The problem your proposal solves
    • Any scientific information, medical studies or evidence that supports your request
    • Contexts or stories about patient and provider and experience to contextualize the request

HERC Staff, working closely with the committee chairpersons, will review your request and will follow up with you. Here's what to expect:

  • In some cases, staff will prepare a proposal to discuss making the requested change.
  • In other cases, we may invite you to give a 10-minute presentation at a future Value-based Benefits Subcommittee meeting
  • Other cases, we will invite you to share written or verbal comments at an upcoming meeting.

​The approach depends on factors such as whether:

    • The topic was recently reviewed
    • There are new medical studies on the topic
    • Whether any new medical studies are likely to affect HERC's policy, based on staff assessment of the evidence presented.

Based on your comment or the research prepared by staff, the Commission may choose to make the recommended change, make no change, or address the topic at a future meeting

A note about public comments:

  • The Evidence-based Guidelines Subcommittee can only hear public comment on topics already on the agenda.
  • Other committees may hear public comment on non-agenda medical topics.

We're here to help guide you through the process and we appreciate your engagement!

*Kindly note: Any materials, including faxes, sent to the Commission's physical office cannot be accepted. Emailed materials are gladly received. Thank you for your understanding.

We can provide free help if you have a disability or don't speak English. Some examples include:

  • Spoken language interpreters
  • Sign language interpreters
  • Captions (CART)
  • Braille materials
  • Large print
  • Written transcripts
  • Adjustments to virtual platforms

For help with these or other related services please email: herc.info@oha.oregon.gov. Please reach out at least 5 days before the meeting to ensure we can assist.

To help make sure we can provide the support you need, please contact us even if you're just thinking about attending the meeting. The sooner you let us know, the more likely we can assist.​