By ,
Jul 20, 2026
Medicaid Programs
Recently, a friend of mine arrived for a routine dental appointment expecting a simple visit. Instead, he learned that because of a recent move, the state had administratively reassigned him to a different Medicaid health plan.
Insights
Perspectives from the front lines of health care improvement — on the evidence, ideas and partnerships shaping what comes next.
Behavioral Health
Embracing Recovery: Building a Recovery Friendly Workplace
September is National Recovery Month — a time to celebrate the strength of individuals in recovery, raise awareness about substance use and mental health challenges, and promote evidence-based recovery practices. This year, we spotlight the role of the workplace in supporting recovery, and how becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) can transform company culture, enhance employee well-being and support sustainable recovery efforts across communities.
Health IT
Faxes in the Age of AI
A few weeks ago, I attended a conference session titled “Implementing FIHR While Faxing Is Still a Reality in Prior Authorization.” It was terrific — with sophisticated techniques, a fax can be essentially reverse-engineered into a much more useful electronic document — but also gave me a moment of pause. How is it that we are in a world with such extremes of technology “haves” and “have-nots” that some in the health care sector — particularly nursing homes, mental health providers and small or rural clinics — are still filling out paper forms and feeding sheets into fax machines, while others have cutting-edge technology to parse the results into something they can reasonably use?
Behavioral Health
Novel Study Demonstrates the Power of Peer-Delivered Contingency Management in Addressing Stimulant Use Disorder
A new paper in the Harm Reduction Journal describes a peer-delivered contingency management program built around self-identified harm reduction and treatment goals, and what centering peers in its design and training made possible.
Chronic Disease
‘Improve Musculoskeletal Health: From Screening to Treatment’ Offers Free Online Education for Health Care Providers
A new musculoskeletal health learning series walks clinics through measuring, assessing and improving arthritis screening and diagnosis protocol, with guidance on designing a screening-to-referral pathway.
Quality Improvement
Polarity Management Provides a Path to Action During Times of Change
As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of health care in today’s world, we’re faced with a complex array of challenges — many of which may seem contradictory. Polarity management has become an important framework that has guided my thinking and leadership approach in this dynamic environment; it also offers practical tools that help me approach these challenges with greater balance and perspective each day.
Behavioral Health
Study Shows Peer Support Plus Telehealth Increases Success of Hepatitis C Treatment
A randomized controlled trial finds that pairing peer support with telemedicine significantly raises hepatitis C cure rates among people who use drugs, in work with OHSU and HIV Alliance.
Comagine Health Staff Members’ Work Featured in Recent Publications
Recent publications from Comagine Health team members include a longitudinal qualitative study of Oregon Medicaid back pain providers and their experience offering alternative treatment.
Medicaid Programs
Comagine Health Oregon State Director Senior Author on Study Focusing on Housing, Food Insecurity in Health Care
Oregon State Director Anne King is senior author of a study on the role of housing and food insecurity in health care. A survey of Oregonians on Medicare and Medicaid found both grew considerably at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Behavioral Health
Oregon Health Authority Releases Updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools
The Oregon Health Authority’s updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools supports prevention, harm reduction and response. Comagine Health work is referenced throughout, including the Oregon Youth and Young Adult Fentanyl and Pills Survey.