EOCCO Clinics and Staff,
Welcome to the January 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:
- 2025 year-end reporting process and timeline
- Funding opportunity: Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)
- 2026 EOCCO Grants: Applications opening soon!
- April 2026 Spanish language birth doula training
From our partners:
- Oregon Health Policy Board Primary Care Strategy Committee: Call for applications
- Social needs screening learning series
- Changes to the CDC immunization schedule
- Senior Loneliness Line: A free resource for Oregonians 60 years and older
- 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:
2025 year-end reporting process and timeline
Please note the following 2025 year-end reporting timeline for clinics participating in the value-based payment model
- Claims-based measures
- Final date for 2025 CY Claims submission: 3/15/26
- Chart review/hybrid measures
- Reporting templates sent out by 2/13/26
- Chart review templates for PPC and SDOH: 3/13/26
- Clinical Quality Measures
- 2025 CQM Proposal: 1/16/26 (CQM Proposal form sent out 12/19/2025)
- 2025 CQM Submission: 3/13/26
- If your clinic previously submitted data for SBIRT and/or Cigarette Smoking Prevalence, you will be asked to continue to report data for those measures to OHA for rate monitoring
For questions or concerns, please reach out to EOCCOmetrics@modahealth.com.
Funding opportunity: Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is an upcoming funding opportunity that may be of interest to clinical and community partners serving rural and frontier communities in Eastern Oregon.
Oregon was recently awarded $197.3 million for 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a new, five-year federal initiative from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to support investments in rural health systems. The RHTP’s $50 billion in funding will be allocated to states over the grant period, with $10 billion available each year from 2026-2030.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) plans to release Request for Applications in mid-February for projects focused on healthy communities and chronic disease prevention; healthcare workforce capacity and resilience; and health information technology, data, and modernization.
Anticipated timeline
- Mid-February: Oregon begins releasing Request for Application (RFA) to support approved RHTP initiatives
- Late March: RFA response deadlines
- Early May: RFA awardee decisions announced by OHA
Project eligibility
A wide range of clinical, community-based, and social service organizations serving rural and frontier communities are expected to be eligible. A dedicated Tribal initiative will also provide direct funding to federally recognized Tribes in Oregon.
Next steps
Request for Applications have not yet been released, and additional information will be coming soon from OHA. Interested organizations should:
- Start thinking about potential projects and share this opportunity widely with other partners who may be interested in applying
- Visit OHA’s website for additional information on the program
- Sign up for updates from the OHA about the Rural Health Transformation Program
We encourage applicants to stay connected with OHA for official information and updates. Given the scale and intent of this funding, partners are encouraged to explore strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches that support program alignment and shared priorities to increase competitiveness for funding. As additional guidance is released, EOCCO is also exploring opportunities to apply as a Catalyst Awards Administrator to provide tailored technical assistance to grantees, awards administration, and coordinated support for strategic partnerships across Eastern Oregon.
If you’re interested in discussing potential partnerships or opportunities for collaboration in Eastern Oregon, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the EOCCO Grants team at EOCCOGrants@eocco.com.
2026 EOCCO Grants: Applications opening soon!
Applications for two 2026 EOCCO grant programs will be opening on January 31, 2026. For more information, visit the EOCCO Grants webpage or reach out to EOCCOGrants@eocco.com.
The Community Benefit Initiative Reinvestment (CBIR)
Grant type: New Ideas
Applications open: January 31, 2026
Amount available: Up to $50,000 per grantee
The Community Benefit Initiative Reinvestment (CBIR) grants fund year-long projects that aim to improve access to quality care in Eastern Oregon. The New Ideas grant program provides funding for novel and innovative initiatives and delivery models to improve the health and health care of EOCCO members. This funding opportunity is designed to support innovative projects that have not been implemented in Eastern Oregon before or are uniquely tailored to a specific service area or population.
This round of 2026 New Ideas applications will involve a two-part application process. Interested applicants will be asked to complete a brief screening form, and proposals that EOCCO determines to meet grant criteria will then be invited by email to submit a full grant application to EOCCO.
For more information, and to apply: The RFA will be posted to EOCCO’s website once the application period opens. If you have questions, email EOCCOGrants@eocco.com.
Supporting Health for All through Reinvestment (SHARE)
Grant type: Local Community Health Partnership (LCHP)
Applications open: January 31, 2026
Amount available: Varies by county
The SHARE application is designed to provide funding to projects addressing Social Determinants of Health and Equity (SDOH-E). SDOH-E projects include those related to housing, economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, education, social and community health, and healthcare access and quality.
Applications are reviewed by the Local Community Health Partnership (LCHP) for the county the project is based in. Projects must meet SHARE requirements and demonstrate alignment with community priorities identified in EOCCO’s Community Health Improvement Plan 2025-2029. LCHP projects should be designed to be one year, with the possibility to apply for an extension.
For more information, and to apply: Email the GOBHI Field Team at EOCCOCommunities@gobhi.org.
April 2026: Spanish language birth doula training
EOCCO is partnering with CEA Doula International to offer a Spanish‑language birth doula training for community members interested in becoming certified doulas and supporting families across Eastern Oregon. This training is approved by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and will provide the formal instruction required to apply for birth doula certification.
The course will be conducted completely in Spanish. Applicants must be comfortable listening and responding in Spanish. Students will not need to complete a proficiency test prior to enrolling.
Scholarships are available for eligible applicants who live in the EOCCO service area (Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Umatilla, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties).
Most of the training will be delivered virtually, with one in person immersion day to support hands on learning.Virtual Sessions
- Exact training dates and total training hours are still being finalized and will be shared with applicants as soon as they are confirmed
In person Immersion Day
- Date and location are to be determined
- This session will be scheduled based on participant availability to support hands on learning
- After the training, applicants will need to attend three live births before applying to the OHA to become a certified doula. This will provide an opportunity for applicants to shadow an experienced doulas during birth. Coordination can be provided for these births.
To be eligible for the course applicants must:
- Be 18 or older
- Live or work in one of the twelve Eastern Oregon counties listed above
- Speak Spanish proficiently
- Have flexibility to attend required training sessions once dates are finalized.
- Have access to a computer and reliable internet to participate in the virtual training
Ready to apply / interested in this training?
- Complete the birth doula training interest form.
- Join a required Information Session on February 23 or March 5, 2026, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (PST). Click here to register for the virtual information session.
Please note that attending one of these sessions is required, as they cover the training expectations, time commitment, and application process. For more information about the course or scholarships, please contact THW@eocco.com.
News from our partners:
Oregon Health Policy Board Primary Care Strategy Committee: Call for applications
The Oregon Health Policy Board is committed to a sustainable and fully supported primary care system where every person has access to whole-person care that fosters well-being, strengthens communities, uplifts care teams, advances equity, and keeps health care affordable. To achieve this vision, the Oregon Health Policy Board is launching a Primary Care Strategy Committee beginning April 2026.
The Primary Care Strategy Committee will lead a coordinated effort to stabilize, strengthen, and align Oregon’s primary care system with the goal of strengthening access to equitable, affordable, high-quality patient care. The Committee will promote innovative solutions for a strong primary care system focusing on payment and affordability, workforce, and the delivery system.
If you’re passionate about primary care and bring one of the perspectives identified under the “Who should apply for membership”, we invite you to apply for membership on the Primary Care Strategy Committee. Together, we can shape decisions that make a tangible difference in the lives of Oregonians.
To Apply
Complete the online Member Application. If you are unable to submit your application via the online survey, please email OHPB.CommitteeRecruitment@oha.oregon.gov. All applications are due by Friday, February 6, 2026.
What Will the Primary Care Strategy Committee Do?
The Primary Care Strategy Committee will:
- Develop and recommend evidence-based legislative, regulatory, and programmatic strategies to strengthen primary care policy, investment, and sustainability.
- Define statewide primary care goals for payment and affordability, workforce, and the delivery system, including integrating behavioral and oral health.
- Oversee development of a statewide definition of “primary care,” including provider types and core services.
- Recommend strategies to improve provider wellness and resilience by addressing structural drivers of burnout, administrative burden, and misaligned incentives across payer systems.
- Ensure the voices of those who provide, pay for, and access primary care—especially from rural communities, communities of color, and frontline providers—inform Committee deliberations and recommendations.
Who Should Apply for Membership?
The Oregon Health Policy Board will appoint at least nine and no more than 18 members to the Primary Care Strategy Committee. Members will include individuals with diverse expertise and lived experience in primary care.
The OHPB is seeking applicants with the following perspectives:
- Primary Care Providers
- Consumers / Patients / Health Equity Advocates
- Health Care Payers – including commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage payers that provide coverage to people in Oregon
- Health Care Purchasers / Employers
- Primary Care Workforce Experts
- Specialty Care Providers
- Health System / Hospital Representatives
- Health Center Administrators
- Professional Associations Representing Primary Care Providers
- Legislators/ Legislative Aides or Experts in Policy Making
- Tribal Health Providers
- Primary Care Team Members
To the greatest extent practicable, Committee members shall represent the various geographic, ethnic, gender, racial, and economic diversity of Oregon.
For More Information
Please visit the Primary Care Strategy Committee webpage. If you have any questions regarding this committee and the application process, please contact OHPB.PrimaryCare@oha.oregon.gov.
Social needs screening learning series
The Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (ORPRN) is hosting a free learning series for clinics/health care providers related to the Social Needs Screening & Referral incentive measure and workflow implementation.
- Session 1: Foundations of Social Needs Screenings and Referrals (January 21, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST)
- Session 2: Building Effective Referral Pathways (February 23, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST)
To see the full learning series schedule and to register, please click here for more information.
Changes to the CDC immunization schedule
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated their recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule. This schedule now differs from the evidence-based American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) schedule that has been vetted and endorsed by medical and public health experts.
EOCCO, the Oregon Health Authority, and the West Coast Health Alliance continue to support and recommend the AAP schedule for children and adolescents. All AAP-recommended immunizations will remain covered by Medicaid (EOCCO), CHIP, and private/ACA insurance. More information on these recommendations can be found on the Oregon Health Authority website.
Senior Loneliness Line: A free resource for Oregonians 60 years and older
Nearly 1 in 5 adults over the age of 50 is at risk of social isolation, which may lead to loneliness. Loneliness can negatively impact the immune system, increase inflammation, lead to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and other serious health conditions. It can also contribute to cognitive decline and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Senior Loneliness Line offers a free statewide call service for Oregonians 60+. Volunteers and staff are specially trained to provide older adults with ongoing support, including grief support, elder abuse prevention and counseling and suicide intervention. All information is completely confidential.
Any aging adult who is experiencing loneliness, isolation, depression or anxiety can benefit from a confidential phone call with our Senior Loneliness Line call counselors. Sometimes, a friendly conversation with someone who cares and wants to listen can be just the kind of connection a caller needs. For more information, call 800-282-7035 or visit the Senior Loneliness Line website.
Senior Loneliness Line is a statewide service provided in partnership between Lines for Life and Oregon Health Authority.
New OHA-certified Health Care Interpreter Registry file posted
The December 2025 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
