In Salem this week, Senator Deb Patterson brought together a cross-section of local health care leaders for a roundtable discussion aimed at bracing Oregon for what many fear will be severe disruptions to access and affordability in the coming months. As chair of the Senate Health Care Committee, Patterson said the insights gathered would help shape the work of her committee when the legislature begins its scheduled hearings next week.
The session was convened amid growing concern over H.R. 1, the federal budget measure backed by President Trump and congressional Republicans. Health providers across Marion and Polk Counties believe the bill could result in deep cuts to Medicaid and other essential health programs, jeopardizing care for thousands of residents. While no one disputed the scale of the challenge, those at the table focused on solutions and strategies to ensure Oregonians continue receiving needed services even if federal support declines.
Representatives from hospitals, clinics, and community health organizations described a system already under strain from workforce shortages, rising costs, and administrative complexity. Several participants underscored the importance of maximizing value from existing resources, citing primary care as an area where investment can generate significant downstream savings. Others stressed the need to cut through layers of red tape that slow care delivery, particularly during times of crisis.
There was consensus that local voices must be central to the state’s response. Leaders emphasized that transparency in how funds are allocated, and in how potential reductions are managed, will be critical in maintaining public trust. They also urged policymakers to view the problem holistically, recognizing that health outcomes depend not only on hospitals and clinics but also on community-based programs that address housing stability, food security, and behavioral health.
Patterson, a Democrat representing Salem, framed the meeting as both a listening exercise and a call to action. She noted that legislative days are designed for committees to refine their priorities before the next session, and said she intended to walk into those hearings with perspectives gathered directly from her community. For her, protecting access to health care in Oregon is inseparable from protecting the broader well-being of families and communities statewide.
Participants included executives from major regional institutions such as Salem Health, Santiam Hospital, and Northwest Human Services, as well as leaders from smaller practices and pediatric clinics. Their presence reflected the breadth of stakeholders who will be affected if federal funding is reduced. Each came with specific concerns, but the discussion consistently returned to the theme of collaboration. It was clear that hospitals alone, or state agencies alone, cannot weather such shifts without coordinated planning across the entire health care landscape.
The roundtable took place just days before the Senate Interim Committee on Health Care convenes at the Capitol. That committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, September 30, at 11:30 a.m., where members are expected to continue discussions on how best to shield Oregon families from the potential fallout of federal cuts. While the details of any legislative strategy remain uncertain, the groundwork laid in Salem this week shows that health care leaders and lawmakers alike are preparing for difficult choices ahead.