Oregon Health Authority outlines public health priorities, funding needs in HB 5025 briefing

PORTLAND, Ore. — Officials from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) presented an overview of the Public Health Division—s work and budget priorities tied to House Bill 5025 during an informational hearing of the Joint Subcommittee on Human Services on Feb. 17.

Naomi Adeline Biggs, public health director at the Oregon Health Authority, told co-chairs Campos and Valderrama that "the public health division is here to ensure that all people in Oregon can achieve their best health," and outlined how the division uses the public health modernization framework adopted by the Legislature in 2015 to allocate resources across state, local and tribal partners.

The presentation summarized recent program successes, ongoing risks and the governor—s recommended investments. Highlights included: emergency and continuing responses to elevated nitrates in private wells in the Lower Umatilla Basin; expansion of the Family Connects newborn visiting program; new positions funded through public health modernization for local public health authorities (LPHAs) and community-based organizations (CBOs); data modernization work; a proposed increase in hospital licensing fees to bolster complaint and inspection capacity; funding to expand school-based health centers and reproductive-health access; and a policy package to close loopholes allowing oral nicotine products to avoid tobacco regulation.

Why it matters: OHA officials said state investments in foundational public health functions flow largely through local public health authorities, tribes and CBOs…