Updated April 3, 2024

Policy and Regulatory Update Call Invite

OPCA’s Policy Team is inviting you to join them as they kick off OPCA’s Policy and Advocacy Update Call where they will provide monthly updates on important policy and regulatory issues that matter to health centers.

Attendees will have direct access to federal and state-level policy and regulatory updates from OPCA staff and national experts.

When: Every second Wednesday of the month at 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email (check spam/junk) containing information about adding the calendar invite and joining the meeting

State Update

2024 Legislative Session concludes with a new Speaker at the helm: The 2024 session wrapped up on March 7. Many substantial bills passed and are on their way to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk for her signature. Among them were the governor’s priority housing package, campaign finance reform, budget bills, and many more. Learn more in OPCA’s Post-Session Legislative Report.

Emotions were high as many lawmakers who will not return to the Legislature next year (either due to not seeking reelection or being barred due to walkout absences) expressed their gratitude to their colleagues and staff all week.

A new Speaker: Just before gaveling out for the session, Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) stepped down from his post as Speaker, making good on his promise going into the session. The House then appointed Rep. Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene) to the role and Speaker Pro-Tempore Paul Holvey (D-Eugene) swore her in.

After brief remarks from the newly elected Speaker Fahey, she turned the podium back over to Rep. Rayfield to allow him to gavel out the session simultaneously with Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) just after 8:15pm.

House elects new Majority Leader: Last week, Oregon House Democrats elected first-term Representative Ben Bowman (D-Tigard) as House Majority Leader to succeed Rep. Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) as she steps into the role of House Speaker.

Capitol Hill

FY 2024 Funding Finally Finished: Last weekend, the six remaining FY2024 appropriations bills were enacted as the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, preventing a shutdown and continuing discretionary funding for Community Health Centers at $1.858 billion. The legislation also maintained funding for key activities such as Ending the HIV Epidemic and contained earmarks for some health centers. For more information on discretionary funding for FY24, click here for a spreadsheet that summarizes funding levels for relevant programs.

As a reminder, Congress passed an extension of mandatory funding for Health Centers on March 8 along with funding for the National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program through December 31, 2024. The bill will increase CHC funding to an annualized level of $4.4 billion, NHSC to $345 million, and THCGME to $175 million, with additional flexibility for HRSA on the use of unspent and recouped carryover funds.