The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), a new state agency created by the 2009 Oregon state legislature, will lead a process to create a statewide Health Improvement Plan. Divisions of the Department of Human Services that provide health services to Oregonians including the Oregon Public Health Division, the Mental Health and Addictions Division, and the Division of Medical Assistance Programs are a part of the OHA. The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) is also included. The statewide Health Improvement Plan will address priorities of the OHA including improving population health and reducing health care costs.

The Oregon Health Improvement Plan will replace the current risk factor and chronic disease specific statewide plans (e.g. tobacco, physical activity and nutrition, arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes and heart disease and stroke). It will determine objectives and strategies that are known to work to prevent obesity and tobacco use and to detect and manage chronic diseases. These objectives and strategies include statewide and community-based policy, systems and environmental approaches, as well as addressing underlying conditions and social determinants of health. For more information about the OHA and its citizen-led Board, go to www.oregon.gov/oha.