Oregon Health Forum

09/02/2026

What would it take to improve care for Oregonians while spending less?
With costs soaring, access dwindling and major federal Medicaid cutbacks looming, Oregon healthcare leaders have proposed a system overhaul.

💬 Join former Governor John Kitzhaber and healthcare leaders live on Zoom to hear their recommendations, ask questions and weigh in on proposals that could help shape Oregon healthcare policy.

This forum kicks off a two-part series laying the groundwork for action in the 2027 state Legislature.

The recommendations come from the Health System Sustainability Group, tasked by Governor Tina Kotek and led by Dr. Kitzhaber to identify ways to lower healthcare costs without compromising quality or access.

📅 Sept 22 | 12:30 PM – 2 PM
🔗 Register Today: tinyurl.com/mu63kvfe
📄 Read the HSSG summary and report: tinyurl.com/26bssdfm

08/14/2026

Our Aug. 12 panel posed the question: reform or replace the Oregon Health Plan’s coordinated care organizations?

“We asked the CCOs to do a lot…(Now) I think we want to focus the CCOs on what we think they can do best.” - John McConnell, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) health economist and Medicaid researcher

​“Providers are the lifeblood of the Medicaid delivery system… Administration is frankly hamstringing providers.” - Jamal Furqan, founder, Torchlight Consulting

“This time of crisis is forcing the conversations. We need to ask questions about what is making our population healthier.” - Jeremiah Rigsby, chief legal and public affairs officer, CareOregon

“This is the defining issue for the next six years. We need strong leadership to take action.” - John Kitzhaber, former Governor

Thank you to our panelists, moderator Nick Budnick and our excellent sponsors. Catch the summary in The Lund Report: https://bit.ly/4ghwx0F.

08/10/2026

Don't miss this important conversation about the future of health care in Oregon.

This Wednesday, leading experts in Medicaid policy, health care, and the Oregon Health Plan will tackle the question: Reform or replace Oregon's coordinated care organizations (CCOs)?

Wednesday, August 12 from 8:30–10:00 am
☕ (Doors at 8:00 am, coffee and light breakfast served)
📍 University of Oregon Portland Campus
💻 Can't make it in person? Join the livestream.

With major Medicaid funding cuts on the horizon and new research raising questions about managed care nationally, this discussion comes at a critical moment: https://wp.me/p34Ikx-2mg.

08/04/2026

Join the forum wherever you are—livestream available! August 12 from 8:30–10:00 am.

Escalating costs, diminishing access and looming Medicaid cuts are putting everything up for discussion, even the cornerstone of the Oregon Health Plan. Should the Oregon coordinated care organization (CCO) model be reformed, or is it time to consider a different approach?

Hear from key players on:
🔹 How Oregon’s CCO model has evolved
🔹 What new research says about Medicaid managed care nationally
🔹 What reforms or alternatives could lower costs and strengthen care for the 1.4 million Oregonians who rely on the Oregon Health Plan

Can't attend in person? Tune in via the livestream for just $15.

If you’re interested in the future of health care in Oregon, this is a conversation you won't want to miss: https://wp.me/p34Ikx-2mg.

Oregon Health Forum is the educational arm of The Lund Report and provides opportunities for healthcare leaders to discuss pivotal issues and interact with their colleagues.

07/28/2026

Deep looming cuts to Medicaid are sparking discussion about the cornerstone of the Oregon Health Plan: managed care. Do Oregon’s coordinated care organizations (CCOs) remain the best vehicle for providing health coverage to 1.4 million lower-income Oregonians? Framed by just-published research raising questions about Medicaid managed care outcomes nationally, the panel will discuss the evolution of the Oregon model, how it could be improved and what alternative approaches could look like.

In-person and via livestream: https://wp.me/p34Ikx-2mg.

August 12, 2026 | Oregon’s CCO’s at a Crossroads: Reform or Replace? Deep looming cuts to Medicaid are sparking discussion about the cornerstone of the Oregon Health Plan: managed care. The state’s system of insurer-like regional contractors that oversee care – the coordinated care organizat...

07/14/2026

Healthcare isn't just treating Oregonians—it's powering Oregon's economy.

Tomorrow, join economic and public policy strategist John Tapogna for a virtual presentation that explains why healthcare has become Oregon's economic engine, the risks that come with that dependence, and what policymakers, employers and communities should be watching next.

Bring your questions for an extended Q&A.

📅 July 14, 2026
🕛 12:30–2 PM
💻 Virtual Lunch Forum

Register: tinyurl.com/2yx3zcp6

07/09/2026

In Oregon, if it's the economy, it's healthcare.

That idea is at the center of our next Oregon Health Forum conversation.

On July 14, economic and public policy strategist John Tapogna, president of the Oregon Business Council, will explore how healthcare is driving Oregon’s economy, why that creates new vulnerabilities and what it means for the state's future.

Join us for a virtual lunchtime presentation followed by an extended audience Q&A. Register today and be part of the conversation.

📅 July 14, 2026
🕛 12:30–2 PM
💻 Virtual Lunch Forum

Register: tinyurl.com/2yx3zcp6

07/02/2026

When economist John Tapogna examined healthcare's role in Oregon's economy, he uncovered a troubling imbalance. While healthcare has fueled much of Oregon's recent job growth, Oregon pays among the nation's highest wages for healthcare workers while maintaining a below-average supply of key talent.

Is that a sign of economic strength—or a warning?

Join Oregon Health Forum for a timely virtual presentation as Tapogna explores what healthcare reveals about Oregon's changing economy and the challenges ahead.

Stay for an extended Q&A with John.

📅 July 14, 2026
🕛 12:30–2 PM
💻 Virtual Lunch Forum

Register: tinyurl.com/2yx3zcp6

06/27/2026

Healthcare has been one of the few sectors carrying Oregon’s post-pandemic job growth. Yet economist John Topagna has discovered that the state faces a troubling imbalance: Oregon pays among the highest wages in the nation for healthcare talent while maintaining a below-average supply of key healthcare workers.

That workforce strain is emerging just as demand for care is rising, public budgets are tightening, and the commercial insurance market is under increasing pressure. In a July 14 Oregon Health Forum virtual presentation, Topagna will connect Oregon’s broader economic challenges to the future of healthcare—and explain why the sector cannot thrive in a stagnating state.

“Oregon has entered a new era,” said Tapogna, president of Oregon Business Council. “We can no longer assume population, workforce, and tax-base growth will happen on their own. We have to compete—deliberately—for workers, families, employers, investment, and ideas.”

For anyone concerned about Oregon’s economic future, and the future of healthcare in the state, this presentation is not to be missed.

📅 July 14, 2026
🕛 12:30–2 PM
💻 Virtual Lunch Forum
Register: tinyurl.com/2yx3zcp6

06/23/2026

Health care is among Oregon's mightiest economic engines. But what happens when the sector comes under strain?

Join Oregon Health Forum for “Health Care Is Carrying Oregon's Economy. That Should Worry Us,” a virtual presentation with economist and public policy strategist John Tapogna, president of the Oregon Business Council.

As Oregon confronts workforce shortages, rising costs and mounting economic pressures, Tapogna will explore why health care is both a pillar of Oregon's economy and a potential warning sign for its future.

This forum launches “Time to Lock In”, a three-part series confronting Oregon's health care headwinds.

📅 July 14, 2026
🕛 12:30–2 PM
💻 Virtual Lunch Forum

Register: tinyurl.com/2yx3zcp6