top of page

2026 - 2027 CALL TO ACTION

Who we are
Over the last six months, a group of Oregon group practice owners has come together in response to everything being thrown at us. Some of us have been hit hard by Medicaid losses and audits. Some haven't yet and are worried. Some have done political advocacy before. All of us share one goal: giving mental health providers an organized voice in Salem. We've already met with Rep. Rob Nosse and have a plan to build an organization that advocates for all mental health workers in Oregon.
 

Why now: what's coming in 2027
Our legislators, lobbyists, and others we've talked with have been clear: mental health providers are facing serious challenges next year.

  • HR1 (the federal budget bill passed in July 2025) brings new work requirements for many Oregon Health Plan adults starting January 2027, and more frequent eligibility renewals starting in late 2027. About 200,000 Oregonians are expected to lose OHP coverage. Those are our clients.

  • Oregon faces a $421 million Medicaid budget hole for the 2027–29 budget cycle, and an even bigger one after that. State advisers are already weighing dozens of possible Medicaid cuts to close it.

  • Our Medicaid programs and pay are on shaky ground. We're hearing that plans are underway to change how practices qualify for Team Based Care, and our Medicaid contracts and rates are at risk.

  • The commercial insurance "death spiral" has already started. Providence Health Plan is shutting down most of its insurance business in 2027, leaving more than 400,000 Oregonians and Southwest Washington residents looking for new coverage. PacificSource is also pulling out of the individual marketplace in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Fewer payers means more clients scrambling, more disruption to our practices, and less leverage for providers.

  • Audits keep getting worse. Oregon providers have reported recoupment demands ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. Oregon allows insurers to audit back 30 months, while 32 states set limits, most commonly 12 months.

 

When these decisions get made in Salem, they'll move fast. We need someone at the Capitol every day who already has relationships in place and can speak up for us before the cuts land on our practices.
 

What the lobbyist will do
The lobbyist will champion two bills this session:

  1. The Provider Audit Bill of Rights. You may remember this as HB 2455. It would limit audit lookbacks for mental health claims to 12 months, require insurers and CCOs to clearly spell out their documentation requirements, stop recoupments for simple clerical errors, end extrapolation from small samples, and prohibit paying auditors a cut of what they recover.

  2. A Mental Health Provider Ombuds Office to represent providers in disputes with insurance companies.
     

Working on these bills will also let the lobbyist build the relationships we'll need when HR1, Medicaid cuts, and commercial insurance losses hit. That way we're ready to respond as information comes in, instead of scrambling.
 

The ask
Can you commit to a monthly donation toward a lobbyist?

If just 13 group practices gave $250 a month, we'd have what we need: $3,250 a month, or $39,000 a year. Can't do $250? $100 a month helps. $50 a month helps. Solo provider or smaller practice? Even $25 a month adds up fast when lots of us chip in. Monthly commitments matter most because they let us sign a year-long contract with confidence.
 

A note on fairness
We are not asking practices or providers who have been hit by Medicaid losses to contribute. You're already facing exceptional challenges. We're calling on those who are able to take a stand. Your support helps our colleagues who've been hurt, and it gets protection in place before more hits come next year.
 

Where the money goes
For now, donations go through the Oregon Mental Health Providers PAC, and 100% of donations go to this lobbying effort. All time is volunteered and the website is donated, so there's no question where your money goes. We're interviewing lobbyists now and will choose one soon.
 

Donate here: https://www.omhpp.com/donate
Learn more about the Audit Bill of Rights: https://www.omhpp.com/factsheet
 

Want to get involved?
There's room for more voices, and we'd love to have you. Questions? Email us at info@omhpp.com. If you'd like to see what we've been fighting for, here's testimony from one of our founding members:

​

One more way to help: please forward this to anyone you know who might be able to contribute.

​

​

​

​

​

​

©2022 by Oregon Mental Health Providers

bottom of page