Governor Kate Brown Appoints Linda Roman as Health Policy Advisor

August 04, 2020

Portland, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced the appointment of Linda Roman as Health Policy Advisor, effective immediately. In this role, Roman will be a key member of the Governor’s pandemic response team, oversee health-related policy and budget issues, and provide oversight of the Oregon Health Authority, Department of Consumer & Business Services' Health Insurance Division, and the Oregon Health Policy Board. She will also serve as the primary liaison for the Governor with hospitals and health systems, local public health, and legislators with respect to the Governor’s health care agenda.

“Linda’s approach focuses on health equity and accessibility, and she brings an unparalleled passion for serving all Oregonians. Especially during this pandemic—which is disproportionately impacting Black, Latinx, Pacific Islander, and other communities of color—Linda’s experience and collaborative nature will help us tackle complex health issues head on and help us achieve our vision of quality, affordable health care for all Oregonians, regardless of who they are or where they live,” said Governor Brown.

Roman joined the Governor’s Office in March 2018 as the Deputy Health Policy Advisor and most recently served as Deputy Legislative Director. Prior to her work in the Governor’s Office, Roman worked to expand access to health care and held leadership roles with the Oregon Latino Health Coalition and the Oregon Health Equity Alliance. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.

Governor Brown’s previous Health Policy Advisor, Tina Edlund, announced at the beginning of the year her plan to step down from her role in March. However, due to the pandemic, Edlund stayed on several extra months at the request of the Governor; Roman now fills her role. Governor Brown thanked Edlund for her tireless service and for her work in transforming Oregon’s health care system.

In addition, Jackie Yerby—who has served as Deputy Health Policy Advisor—will now serve as the Policy Advisor for Health Care Licensing and Behavioral Health, including overseeing and coordinating the Behavioral Health Advisory Council. Roman and Yerby will serve as co-coordinators of the Racial Justice Council’s Health Equity Committee.

https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=37077

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First Month of Statewide Enforcement Efforts Finds Businesses Largely in Compliance with Face Covering, Physical Distancing Requirements

August 05, 2020

Over 3,600 businesses inspected since July 4th, statewide weekend inspections and enforcement to continue

Salem, OR—One month after announcing that state inspectors would be conducting weekend spot checks in bars, restaurants, breweries, tasting rooms, and other establishments that serve alcohol to enforce state face covering and physical distancing requirements, Governor Kate Brown today thanked Oregonians and the vast majority of business owners who have helped to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“One month ago, at the beginning of the July 4th weekend, I told Oregonians that we stood at a crossroads: we could either stop the spread of COVID-19, or watch infections and hospitalizations rise across Oregon, leading to the closure of businesses and counties again,” said Governor Brown. “We still have a long road ahead of us. Infections continue to rise. But I’d like to thank Oregonians, business owners, and local officials for stepping up to the plate to help make sure we are all wearing face coverings, keeping our physical distance, and working together to keep our friends, neighbors, loved ones, and fellow Oregonians safe.”

Since July 4th, Oregon Liquor Control Commission inspectors have spot checked over 3,600 licensed establishments. More than 93% have been found to be in compliance with physical distancing and face covering requirements. Of the small number found not to be in compliance, the vast majority took steps to implement corrective measures when given instructions by OLCC about how to achieve compliance. Only about 1% of spot-checked business were referred to Oregon OSHA for further investigation.

Likewise, Oregon OSHA has fielded over 3,400 COVID-19 related complaints from the public and others about businesses and workplaces since the week of July 4th and found only a small number of businesses to be in violation of COVID-19 health and safety requirements.

Since March, Oregon OSHA has conducted over 5,000 spot checks of businesses, initiated more than 60 inspections based on COVID-19 related complaints, and have found it necessary to issue 14 citations and five Red Warning Notices. Red Warning Notices apply to businesses that appear to be in willful violation of Oregon's COVID-19 health and safety guidance or who refuse to take corrective measures. Such businesses are closed until the hazardous condition is remedied. Violation of a Red Warning Notice results in stiff penalties.

OLCC inspectors have reported some business owners are continuing to choose not to follow health and safety requirements. For those businesses, OLCC has the ability to suspend licenses for failing to follow face covering and physical distancing requirements. OLCC took action yesterday and suspended the liquor license of a Rogue River bar and restaurant.

Governor Brown added: “Let me be clear: businesses that do not follow the health and safety guidance established by the Oregon Health Authority are putting their employees, their customers, and their communities at risk, risking community-wide closures for other businesses as well if a COVID-19 outbreak starts to spread out of control.”

OLCC will post regular inspection update s to its website on a rolling basis. Oregon OSHA COVID-19 workplace guidance and resources are available here .

https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=37088

Governor Kate Brown Announces Jackson County Justice Court Vacancy

August 05, 2020

Portland, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Jackson County Justice Court created by the recent election of current Justice of the Peace Joseph Charter to the Jackson County Circuit Court. The Governor thanked Judge Charter for his dedicated service on the Justice Court, and announced that she will fill the position by appointment. Judge Charter’s resignation from the Justice Court takes effect December 4, 2020.

The Governor’s office will use its standard Circuit Court Interest Form for this Justice Court vacancy. Interested applicants should mail their completed application forms to: Dustin Buehler, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, 900 Court Street NE #254, Salem, OR 97301-4047. Forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. Forms emailed by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date will be considered timely so long as original signed forms postmarked by the closing date are later received.

Governor Brown fills judicial vacancies based on merit. She encourages applications from lawyers with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. ORS 51.240 sets forth the qualifications for office. Applicants should review the statute to confirm their eligibility for appointment.

https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=37079

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Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Nevada Announce Coordination on Telehealth

August 05, 2020

Portland, OR—Building on a previous announcement regarding COVID-19 re-opening, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, today announced that their states will be working together on telehealth issues. The governors issued the following joint statement:

"The coronavirus pandemic has heightened the demand for telehealth services nationally, and in our states. With patients reluctant to seek in-person care due to exposure risk and transportation access issues, telehealth has offered a way for patients to connect with health providers while mitigating exposure risk. It has also highlighted some of the inequities of our health care systems. During the COVID-19 crisis, each state has sought flexibilities from the federal government to expand health services available through telehealth, modify payment policy for services provided using this modality, and expand the allowable technologies used to provide telehealth services. The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has recently announced its intention to make permanent some of the telehealth flexibilities afforded during this pandemic. Telehealth is here to stay.

"Our states have significant individual and collective experience with telehealth. To ensure that the nation benefits from our knowledge as changes to federal regulations are contemplated, to support continued application and availability of telehealth in our states, and to ensure that we address the inequities faced in particular by tribal communities and communities of color, we are announcing that Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Nevada have agreed to work together to identify best practices that support telehealth services for residents of our states. We will have individual state-driven approaches to implementing telehealth policies, but our work will be guided by seven overarching principles:

1. Access: Telehealth should be used as a means to promote adequate, culturally responsive, patient-centered equitable access to health care, and to ensure provider network adequacy.

1. Confidentiality: Patient confidentiality should be protected, and patients should provide informed consent to receive care and the specific technology used to provide it.

1. Equity: We will focus on improving equitable access to providers and addressing inequities and disparities in care. Telehealth should be available to every member, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, income, class, disability, immigration status, nationality, religious belief, language proficiency, or geographic location.

1. Standard of Care: Standard of care requirements should apply to all services and information provided via telehealth, including quality, utilization, cost, medical necessity, and clinical appropriateness.

1. Stewardship: Our states will require the use of evidence-based strategies for the delivery of quality care, and will take steps to mitigate and address fraud, waste, discriminatory barriers, and abuse.

1. Patient choice: Patients, in conjunction with their providers, should be offered their choice of service delivery mode. Patients should retain the right to receive health care in person.

1. Payment/reimbursement: Reimbursement for services provided via telehealth modalities will be considered in the context of the individual state’s methods of reimbursement.

"We intend to work with our federal partners on telehealth and invite them to commit to a similar coordinated and principle-driven approach. "

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https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=37091

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Governor Kate Brown Announces Updates to the County Watch List

August 06, 2020

Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced that Lake County has succeeded in reducing the spread of COVID-19 sufficiently enough to be removed from the County Watch List. This brings the total number of counties on the Watch List to nine.

“Like last week with Union and Lincoln Counties, I want to applaud Lake County officials and community members for their work in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in their area. You are another example of how we can control the spread of this disease by working together,” said Governor Brown.

The County Watch List allows the state to prioritize resources and assistance to counties that are seeing the broadest community spread of COVID-19. When a county is placed on the Watch List, the Oregon Health Authority increases monitoring and communication, and deploys additional technical assistance and resources, such as epidemiological support, case investigation, and contact tracing help. Counties remain on the Watch List for a minimum of three weeks and until their sporadic case rates drop below the Watch List thresholds (sporadic case rates of 50 or more per 100,000 people, and more than five sporadic cases, in the last two weeks).

Marion County—which was added to the Watch List last week—recently completed investigations that identified sources for cases that were reported last week as sporadic. Out of an abundance of caution, Marion County will remain on the Watch List to monitor for any increases in community spread.

Governor Brown added, “I want to remind all Oregonians that this disease is something that, for the time being, we must learn to live with. This means, your continued work to protect yourselves and others—wearing a face covering, watching your distance, and washing your hands—is of the utmost importance.”

The complete County Watch List now includes the following nine counties: Baker, Hood River, Jefferson, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Umatilla, and Wasco.

https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=37095