February 6, 2026 | Oregon’s Health Care Access Crisis, Part 1: What’s driving the economic strain?
Oregon’s health care system is under growing economic strain as rising costs and unstable financing threaten access across Medicaid, employer-sponsored insurance and the Marketplace. The program was a high-level conversation examining what’s driving this moment and how Oregon can begin charting a more sustainable and equitable path forward.
This event was co-presented by Oregon Health Forum and City Club of Portland and was the first in a two-part series on Oregon’s health care challenges and solutions.
Speakers
Dr. John Kitzhaber – CEO, The Foundation for Medical Excellence; Physician; Former Governor of Oregon
Dr. John Kitzhaber is the author of the Oregon Health Plan and architect of subsequent reforms establishing Coordinated Care Organizations, through which nearly 1.5 million Oregonians receive care. He currently serves as CEO at The Foundation for Medical Excellence and is the Chair of the Oregon Health and Education Collaborative.
Bruce Goldberg – Special Projects Advisor, Office of the Governor; Professor, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health; Former Director, Oregon Health Authority
Bruce Goldberg helped create the Oregon Health Authority, where he served as director. In that role he spearheaded Oregon’s nationally recognized health reforms transforming the state’s health plan for low income Oregonians to one based on a model of coordinated care. He currently is a faculty member at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health.
Annual Sponsors
Event Sponsors
To discuss forum sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kim Crosby at kim@oregonhealthforum.org
