EOCCO Clinics and Staff,
Welcome to the April 2026 issue of the EOCCO monthly provider newsletter. Below is a preview of the articles you will find in this month’s newsletter:
News from EOCCO:
- Rural Health Transformation Project (RHTP) Immediate Impact Awards announced
- Expanding eating disorder care capacity in medical settings
- Updated clinical practice guidelines
From our partners:
- New federal rules for Oregon Health Plan (OHP)
- Changes to prior authorization process for musculoskeletal treatment, specialty therapies and genetic testing
- Introduction to letters of support for gender affirming surgical care for adults
- OHA Equity and Inclusion enhanced demographic training series
- Learning Lab: REALD and SOGI 101
- Upcoming chronic disease quality improvement projects
- New OHA-Certified/Qualified Health Care Interpreter (HCI) Registry file posted
Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns or recommendations. We would love to hear from you!
Email us at: EOCCOproviderinquiry@modahealth.com
Thank you,
Your EOCCO Team
News from EOCCO:
Rural Health Transformation Project (RHTP) Immediate Impact Awards announced
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced the Rural Health Transformation Project (RHTP) Immediate Impact Awards. These projects, which are some of the first in Oregon to receive federal funding, include those offering training for health care professionals, mental health and substance use prevention and support for people managing chronic diseases.
RHTP Catalyst Award Request for Proposals Now Open
OHA announced that the RHTP Catalyst Award request for grant proposals (RFGP) period is now open. This grant opportunity is intended to support transformative projects that strengthen rural health systems across the state.
- Interested applicants can now access the full solicitation on OregonBuys
- Official Solicitation Number: S-44300-00016498
- Official Solicitation Ends: May 26, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST
More information about the RHTP and eligibility requirements can be found on OHA’s RHTP webpage. Interested organizations can also sign up for RHTP newsletter updates.
If you are interested in discussing potential partnership opportunities for RHTP collaboration in Eastern Oregon, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the EOCCO Grants team at EOCCOGrants@eocco.com.
Expanding eating disorder care capacity in medical settings
EDPEN (Eating Disorder Provider Education Network) is a national training and workforce development initiative dedicated to equipping healthcare providers with the skills to detect, medically manage, and support patients with eating disorders within their existing clinical settings.
Eating disorders are:
- Common (impacting ~9% of the population over a lifetime)
- Serious (second highest mortality of any mental health condition)
- Underdiagnosed and undertreated, especially in non-specialty and rural settings
EDPEN exists to close this gap.
Introducing RECAP: Rural Eating Disorder Capacity & Access Program
RECAP is EDPEN’s structured, evidence-based training model designed to build sustainable eating disorder care capacity within medical systems, particularly in underserved and rural regions.
What RECAP Equips Medical Providers to Do:
- Identify early signs of eating disorders across diverse patient populations
- Conduct medical evaluation and ongoing monitoring
- Initiate first-line, evidence-informed care
- Collaborate effectively with therapists, dietitians, and families
- Reduce unnecessary referrals, hospitalizations, and delays in care
Training Model Overview
RECAP is a 12-month capacity-building program that includes:
- Live virtual training that includes a total of 18 hours of education + supervision.
- 8 hours in month 1: suggest 2 half-day (four-hour) training sessions. (Virtual, with live attendance required). These are clinical focus in nature, educational seminars with Q & A.
- 4 hours in months 2-3: 4 virtual group sessions with an ED specialist for case-based learning
- 6 hours over months 4-12 of ongoing clinical supervisory support for real-time patient case consultation in small groups/teams or individuals.
- Practical tools for real-world clinical application
- Support for building multidisciplinary care pathways
- Provides CPEU / CE credits for the following disciplines: Dietitians, Diet Techs, Psychologists, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Counselors, Physicians, Marriage and Family Therapists and Social Workers
How We Can Support Your Team
As we work to improve access to eating disorder care across rural Oregon communities, we are connecting with healthcare organizations to better understand how we can support your providers.
Whether your team is:
- Looking to strengthen early detection and medical management,
- Exploring ways to reduce referrals out of community, or
- Interested in building local, team-based care capacity
RECAP Training will be intensive enough to provide a level of outpatient care that is the equivalency of an IOP/PHP/Residential level of care. EDPEN can help equip your providers with the training and support needed to care for patients closer to home.
Help Us Understand Your Needs
We invite you to share your level of interest so we can align support with your organization’s goals. We’re gathering:
- First & Last Name
- Position/Role
- Organization
- Level of Interest (Exploring / Planning / Ready to Implement)
- Estimated number of providers to train
Please fill out this form which will only take a few minutes of your time. Thank you!
For questions or to discuss partnership opportunities please email info@edpen.org | Contact: Sumner Brooks, MPH, RDN
Updated clinical practice guidelines
EOCCO would like to make you aware of updated clinical practice guidelines. The guidelines are effective as of April 2025. Please visit the referrals and authorizations page of the EOCCO website to review the clinical practice guidelines for physical health, oral health and behavioral health. Contact EOCCOproviderinquiry@modahealth.com with any questions regarding the guidelines.
News from our partners:
New federal rules for Oregon Health Plan (OHP)
In July 2025, the federal government passed the House Resolution 1 (HR1) budget bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. HR1 requires big changes to Oregon Health Plan (OHP, also known as Medicaid).
Some adult OHP members will also need to confirm they are working, volunteering, attending school or exempt from requirements. These rules will apply to people between the ages of 19 and 64, who do not have Medicare or qualify for OHP programs based on disability or pregnancy. There are many reasons people can be exempt, such as caring for children under 14, or having serious or complex medical needs. The federal government has not provided all the details about these exemptions yet.
OHA is in the planning stages of how to put new federal rules into place and keep people covered, to the greatest extent possible. Here’s what OHP members should know now:
- Work or activity requirements will not take effect until 2027 and will not affect all OHP members
- Please keep your contact information current
- Continue to report changes and respond to renewal letters
We know that people are eager to have all the details about the changes ahead. The federal government hasn’t relayed all the specifics yet and they are not scheduled to do so until June 2026. In the meantime, OHA will continue to share information.
How to stay informed & find more information:
- Visit the OHP member page about federal changes
- Follow any of OHA’s social media channels:
- Instagram: @OregonHealthAuthority
- Facebook (English)
- Facebook (Spanish)
Changes to prior authorization process for musculoskeletal and specialty therapies and genetic testing
EviCore by EverNorth is pleased to continue its partnership with EOCCO to provide utilization management services.
Effective May 1, 2026, EOCCO members will require Lab (genetic testing) prior authorization from EviCore for dates of service beginning May 1, 2026.
In addition, effective April 27, 2026, EOCCO members will now require Pain Management, Joint Surgery, Spine Surgery, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Speech (ST), Physical (PT) and Occupational (OT) therapy prior authorization from EviCore for dates of service beginning May 1, 2026.
To request authorization, providers may:
- Log onto the EviCore portal at www.evicore.com/provider (preferred method)
- Call EviCore intake center at 844-303-8451
- Fax
- Genetic Testing: 844-545-9213
- PT/OT/ST/Chiro: 855-774-1319
- Pain/Spine/Joint: 800-540-2406
EviCore’s Clinical Guidelines and worksheets will be available on the EviCore provider website.
To prepare for these changes, EviCore will host provider training sessions in April.
Training schedule for Musculoskeletal Pain, Joint and Spine:
- Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 9 to 10 a.m. PST
- Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. PST
- Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST
Training schedule for Lab:
- Thursday, April 16, 2026, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST
- Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 10 – 11 a.m. PST
Training schedule for Specialty Therapies:
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 10 – 11 a.m. PST
- Thursday, April 23, 2026, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. PST
To register for a session:
- Go to EviCore.Webex.com
- Click the “Upcoming” tab.
- Choose the orientation session that you want to attend. You can use the search field to quickly find the session that fits your schedule:
- “Moda MSK Pain, Joint, & Spine - Provider Orientation”
- “Moda Lab - Provider Orientation”
- “Moda Specialty Therapies - Provider Orientation”
- Click “Register” next to the session you want to attend.
- Enter the registration information.
- Repeat this process for each session you want to attend.
Please keep your registration email. It will contain the link to and call-in number for that session. We encourage you to add the training date to your calendar as a reminder for the upcoming session(s).
If you are unable to attend, you may find a copy of the presentation and other important documents here.Introduction to letters of support for gender affirming surgical care for adults
The OHSU Transgender Health Program presents a one-day virtual course offering mental health providers the opportunity to learn about:
- Increasing your knowledge of gender affirming surgical care for adults
- Supporting adults preparing for/recovery from gender affirming surgical care
- Conducting trauma informed gender affirming mental health assessments for adults
- Writing letters of support for adults
When: Wednesday, June 3,2026, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PT
For more information, or to register, visit Introduction to Letters of Support for Gender Affirming Surgical Care for Adults or contact penkin@ohsu.edu.
OHA Equity and Inclusion enhanced demographic Training Series
This series of 5–20-minute videos explore de-escalation training and communication strategies for collecting REALD and SOGI data. Created by OHA, the material can be accessed by any agency collecting demographic data. Please click here to access OHA’s videos on enhanced demographic training.
Learning Lab: REALD and SOGI 101
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Office of Equity and Multicultural Services (OEMS) invites you to join the Learning Lab to review REALD (Race, Ethnicity, Language and Disability) and SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) basics, learn about resources and discuss your questions for collecting enhanced demographic data. There are two opportunities to participate in the Learning Lab:
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 3:05-4:25 p.m. or
- Thursday, May 7, 2026, 10:35-11:55 a.m. PT
To register for the Learning Lab, click here to fill out the ODHS REALD and SOGI 101 Learning Lab form.
Upcoming chronic disease quality improvement projects
Self-Measured Blood Pressure study funded by PCORI
The Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) is recruiting rural clinics around the state to enroll patients with high blood pressure into a clinical self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) study. Half of the clinics and their patients will be randomized to the pharmacy arm for pharmaceutical support (with billing guidance). Clinics will receive a stipend for participation, along with training and support in implementing SMBP strategies aligned with Target BP.
American Diabetes Association Obesity and Chronic Kidney Disease QI project
ORPRN is recruiting rural clinics for a quality improvement program to support adult patients with diabetes experiencing obesity and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Practices will receive a stipend for participation, as well as free training and QI support from ORPRN.
New OHA-certified Health Care Interpreter Registry file posted
The March 2026 Oregon Health Authority Health Care Interpreter (HCI) Registry file has been posted to the EOCCO Incentive Measure webpage under “Meaningful Language Access”. This file contains a list of all active OHA certified or qualified health care interpreters in the state of Oregon. Files can be downloaded for your reference and records.
You can also search for OHA certified or qualified HCIs on the Health Care Interpreter Registry webpage.
Questions?
Questions related to incentive measures, health equity, traditional health workers, SDoH, and HIT? Please email EOCCOMetrics@modahealth.com
Questions related to claims and payment information? Please email EOCCOProviderInquiry@modahealth.com
Need to verify if your provider or group NPI is active? Please use OHA’s verification tool
Need to register your practitioner, group or facility? You can find forms on EOCCO.com/Providers/becomeaprovider
If you would like to be added or removed from the email list, please let us know at finn.gornick@modahealth.com
