Practice Tactics
Watch for Claims Issues During System Updates
We are improving our claims system, and the updates include changes to the appearance of our Benefit Plan and Authorization grids.
As these changes roll out, please watch your claims and prior authorization activity closely. Examples of potential issues include:
- Codes that previously required prior authorization being dismissed.
- Claims denied for codes that historically did not require prior authorization.
Action needed: If you notice anything unexpected with claims or prior authorization submissions, email us right away at priorauthorizations@umpquahealth.com. Your prompt reporting helps us identify and resolve issues quickly.
Standard Prior Authorization Reviews Are Now 7 Days
As of January 2026, Umpqua Health Alliance no longer uses a 14-day standard review timeframe. Standard prior authorization requests are reviewed within seven calendar days of receipt, in accordance with current requirements.
The good news: most standard requests are completed in three to five calendar days, unless an extension is needed to obtain missing documentation
| Request Type | Review Time | Use When |
| Standard | 7 calendar days | Most requests. Most are completed in 3-5 calendar days. |
| Urgent | 2 business days | The member’s condition requires a faster decision than standard. |
| Expedited | 72 hours | Waiting could seriously jeopardize the member’s life, health or function. |
Choosing the Right Request Type
We have recently seen an increase in requests submitted as expedited. Please select the review type that best matches the member’s clinical needs.
| Expedited requests should only be submitted when waiting for the standard review timeframe could seriously jeopardize the member’s life, health or ability to attain, maintain or regain maximum function. |
How to Avoid Review Delays
☐ Include all required clinical documentation with your initial submission.
☐ For expedited requests, provide documentation that clearly supports the need for a faster review.
☐ Submit expedited requests only when the member’s condition requires a review sooner than the standard turnaround.
Complete and accurate submissions help our team process requests efficiently and ensure members receive timely decisions.
Avoid Delays on Behavioral Health Authorization Requests
A few extra moments reviewing your authorization request can prevent processing delays.
Some behavioral health services are authorized using a per diem (date range) method, while others are authorized in 24-hour increments, such as overnight stays. Before submitting, make sure the procedure code matches the type of service and the correct date format.
Before You Submit, Please Check:
☐ The procedure code matches the correct authorization method (per diem or 24-hour increment).
☐ The requested dates match the selected procedure code.
☐ The request accurately reflects the services being requested.
☐ Amendments and extensions use the same authorization method as the original request.
Using the correct procedure code and date format reduces follow-up questions and supports faster, more accurate authorization processing. Thank you for your partnership in providing timely service to our members.
Refer Patients to New OHP Nutrition Benefits
Two new health-related social needs (HRSN) benefits are now available to eligible Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members: the Fruit and Vegetable Benefit and the Pantry Stocking Benefit. Each provides food support for up to six months at no cost to the member. Your referral is often how a patient learns these benefits exist.
Who to Refer
You don’t need to memorize the full eligibility criteria. If a patient screens positive for food insecurity and has any of the following circumstances, encourage them to apply:
- Current or past involvement in Oregon foster care
- Release from jail, detention or prison within the past 12 months
- Discharge from a mental health or substance use treatment program within the past 12 months
- Experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless
- Transitioning from Medicaid-only coverage to Medicaid and Medicare
- Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (YSHCN) benefits
Pregnancy, age (under 6 or 65 and older), complex physical or behavioral health conditions, and frequent emergency room or crisis service use also factor into eligibility. When in doubt, refer. Our team makes the final eligibility determination and a referral that does not qualify costs the practice and the patient nothing.
How to Refer
- Share the application. Members can apply on their own at umpquahealth.com/members/benefits-programs/health-related-social-needs/nutrition/
- Help in the moment. Assist the member with the application during their visit.
- Hand off for support. Connect the member with our Care Coordination team, which can help throughout the application process.
What Members Receive
Fruit and Vegetable Benefit. This benefit provides fruits and vegetables for up to six months to support healthy eating, including fresh fruits and vegetables; canned or packaged fruits, such as applesauce; frozen or dried fruits with no added sugar; and fresh herbs.
Pantry Stocking Benefit. This benefit provides a portion of the member’s recommended daily food for up to six months. Foods may be fresh, frozen, dried, pureed or canned, and include fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry, fish and other proteins; beans and legumes; dairy products; bread and cereals; cooking oils, spices and herbs; snacks and nonalcoholic beverages; and seeds and plants that grow food at home.
Thank you for helping connect members with these benefits. Your support makes it easier for members to access healthy foods and improve their overall well-being.
Full Eligibility Criteria (Reference)
Fruit and Vegetable Benefit. Members must have low or very low food security and be in at least one of these situations:
- Currently or previously in Oregon foster care
- Transitioning from Medicaid-only coverage to Medicaid and Medicare
- Experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless
- Have Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (YSHCN) benefits
- Released from jail or prison within the past 12 months
- Left a mental health or substance use treatment program within the past 12 months
They must also have at least one of these health conditions or factors:
- A complex physical or behavioral health condition
- A developmental or intellectual disability
- Difficulty with self-care or daily activities
- A history of abuse or neglect
- Age 65 or older
- Under age 6
- Pregnant or gave birth within the past 12 months
- Frequently use emergency room or crisis services
Pantry Stocking Benefit. Members must have low or very low food security and be in at least one of these situations:
- Currently or previously in Oregon foster care
- Transitioning from Medicaid-only coverage to Medicaid and Medicare
- Experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless
- Have Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (YSHCN) benefits
- Released from jail, detention or prison within the past 12 months
- Left a mental health or substance use treatment program within the past 12 months
They must also be one of the following:
- Pregnant
- Have YSHCN benefits
- A child age 5 or younger
- A child or young adult ages 6-20 with one or more of these health conditions:
- A complex physical or behavioral health condition
- A developmental or intellectual disability
- Difficulty with self-care or daily activities
- A history of abuse or neglect
- Frequently use emergency room or crisis services
THW Connections Corner
Save the Date: Foundations of Trauma Informed Care Training
Umpqua Health Alliance is offering Foundations of Trauma Informed Care, a free two-day training for providers and their care teams, on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 23-24, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at Aviva Health, 150 Kenneth Ford Dr., Roseburg. Slots are limited.
Learning objectives include:
- What is trauma?
- Exploring resilience and recovery
- What does trauma informed care look like?
- Understanding the basic science behind trauma
- Workforce wellness
- Culture change
To request a printed flyer for your office or learn more, contact Traditional Health Worker Liaison, Andrea Brown, at 541-464-6255 or abrown@umpquahealth.com.
Robert Gandy: Celebrating Every Win
For Robert Gandy, becoming a Peer Support Specialist was driven by a simple but powerful motivation: helping people. As an Outreach Specialist with Douglas Public Health Network who is both a certified Peer Support Specialist and a Certified Recovery Mentor, Robert understands what it’s like to walk alongside individuals on their recovery journeys, offering support, understanding, and encouragement.
When asked what he enjoys most about his work, Robert’s answer reflects the heart of peer support: helping people overcome challenges and move toward their goals. His lived experience, combined with his genuine desire to serve others, allows him to build meaningful connections with the people he supports.
Robert believes that two of his greatest strengths as a Peer Support Specialist are his empathy and engaging personality. These qualities help him create trusting relationships and meet people where they are, especially during difficult moments.
Like many professionals in the behavioral health field, Robert sees barriers that extend beyond the individual. He identifies the lack of affordable housing as one of the most challenging issues facing the people he serves. He also recognizes stigma as one of the most common barriers to recovery, noting that it can come from both within individuals and from the broader community, particularly in health care settings.
“Stigma goes both ways,” Robert explains, emphasizing how negative perceptions can impact access to care, recovery, and overall well-being.
Despite these challenges, Robert remains focused on the victories, both big and small. His advice for fellow Traditional Health Workers reflects the resilience and determination needed in this work:
“Always celebrate the wins… no matter how small. Keep grinding.“
Through his compassion, dedication, and commitment to helping others, Robert continues to make a positive impact in his community and serves as an inspiring example of the important role Peer Support Specialists play in recovery and wellness.
Thank you, Robert, for your commitment to supporting individuals and strengthening communities through peer support.
To learn how to connect your patients with peer support and other Traditional Health Worker services, contact Andrea Brown, abrown@umpquahealth.com
CME for Thee
Free Addiction Medicine Training Begins in September
The Oregon ECHO Network is opening registration for several Addiction Medicine programs that begin in September and we encourage our primary care colleagues to take advantage of them.
These online sessions teach effective, best practice strategies for caring for patients with substance use disorders. Continuing education credits are available and each program is offered at no cost to you or your workplace. The programs use the same case-based ECHO learning model featured in this month’s autism training story. The fall lineup includes the following programs:
- Foundations of Substance Use Disorder Care
- Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy and Postpartum Care
- Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents
Early engagement in treatment improves the odds that patients with substance use disorders stay connected to care and avoid crisis-level intervention. Training like this strengthens the care you already provide and supports better outcomes for the members we serve together.
Space in ECHO programs can fill quickly, so please visit OregonECHONetwork.org soon to review program details and register.
Diet and Physical Activity Still Matter When Prescribing GLP-1s
Umpqua Health Alliance updated its prior authorization criteria for GLP-1 receptor agonists and more members are starting these medications. This JAMA Internal Medicine review offers practical strategies for the questions that follow a new prescription, including managing gastrointestinal symptoms, maintaining adequate nutrition and preserving lean body mass during treatment.
JAMA Internal Medicine Clinical Insights
Integrating Diet and Physical Activity When Prescribing GLP-1s—Lifestyle Factors Remain Crucial
Farhad Mehrtash, MPH; Jody Dushay, MD, MMSc; JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH
A companion JAMA Patient Page, “I Am Taking a GLP-1 Weight-Loss Medication—What Should I Know?”, is written for patients and is a useful handout to pair with prescribing conversations: jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2836527
Clinical Corner
Autism Evaluations for Young Children Are Now Closer to Home
Families in Southern Oregon who have concerns about autism have often faced long waits for an evaluation, and many have had to travel to Eugene or Portland to get one. Those delays carry consequences, because an earlier diagnosis opens the door to early intervention services during a critical window of development.
That picture is beginning to change, and local providers are the reason. Umpqua Health Alliance partnered with Jackson Care Connect and Oregon Health & Science University’s Autism Assessment Capacity Project to train primary care providers to conduct diagnostic autism evaluations for children ages 18 to 47 months with straightforward presentations. The 2026 Southern Oregon cohort enrolled 23 providers, including 10 from the Umpqua Health Alliance network. Twenty providers completed the full program, which included an American Academy of Pediatrics online course, a two-day training in Medford on Feb. 5 and 6, certification in the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children, and eight peer learning sessions that ran through early June.
The early results are encouraging. During the training period, 12 of the 20 trained providers began or completed autism assessments with their own patients. Providers started 19 assessments in all, and four children received a diagnosis that connects them to services. Provider confidence grew across every measured skill area, with the largest gains in conducting and interpreting evaluations. One participating provider put the motivation simply: “There is a great need and I want to do my part to help.”
What does this mean for your practice? If you care for a young child with developmental concerns, a local evaluation may now be an option instead of a long waitlist or a long drive.
Congratulations to the providers who committed their time to this training, and thank you for the care you bring to the youngest members of our community.
Help Families Start the School Year Fully Immunized
The weeks before school starts bring a wave of well-child visits, sports physicals and enrollment paperwork, and they offer the best opportunity of the year to bring your patients up to date on immunizations. Oregon’s school and child care immunization requirements are unchanged for the 2026-27 school year. These requirements are set at the state level and are independent of federal recommendations. Oregon continues to recommend that children receive all vaccines on the American Academy of Pediatrics routine immunization schedule and the Oregon Health Authority supports vaccination recommendations from the AAP, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Every back-to-school visit is a chance to close a gap. Here are ways to make the most of the season:
- Review each child’s immunization status before the visit so catch-up doses can be given the same day, rather than at a return appointment the family may not be able to make.
- Offer immunizations during the visits families have already scheduled, including sports physicals and well-child checks. One appointment can accomplish both.
- Give adolescent visits extra attention. Tdap, the first HPV dose and the meningococcal vaccine all align with middle school ages and these visits become harder to capture once the school year begins.
- Complete school and child care documentation while the family is in the office to help them avoid exclusion notices later in the school year.
These visits also matter for our shared quality goals. Childhood and adolescent immunization measures are always challenging and Umpqua Health Alliance met both in 2025 thanks in large part to your efforts. The progress made this fall will help sustain those outcomes for 2026.
If vaccine conversations with families have become more challenging, you are not alone, and support is available. Douglas Public Health Network can provide copies of the immunization schedules followed by OHA and the AAP, patient-facing materials, and training in evidence-based communication approaches such as motivational interviewing. The February issue of this newsletter also covered the current guidance landscape in detail.
Immunizations remain a covered benefit for Umpqua Health Alliance members at no cost. Thank you for the steady, trusted guidance you give families during a season when clear answers matter most. The OHA Immunizations for School flyer is available to share with families: www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/VACCINESIMMUNIZATION/GETTINGIMMUNIZED/Documents/SchBusEng.pdf
New Substance Use Disorders Resources for Providers & Members
Umpqua Health Alliance has developed two new Substance Use Disorders (SUD) resources for providers and members. They each provide valuable information regarding when and how members can access SUD care and support.
The provider resource, titled Substance Use Resources & Referral Guidance, offers a guide on when, how, and who providers can refer to SUD services, as well as provider contacts for same day screening, outpatient and culturally responsive care, and detox and residential treatment.
The member resource, titled Help, Hope, and Support for Substance Use, gives members information to help them understand what SUD is, how it happens, signs someone might need help, and who to contact for treatment and support, including providers right here in their community. This resource also provides contacts for emergency, crisis support, and non-emergency care. To request printed copies of either resource for your office, contact UHQualityImprovement@umpquahealth.com.
Community Announcements
Back to School Bash Returns Aug. 22
Get ready for the biggest Back to School Bash yet. The 2026 Back to School Bash brings families, students, educators and community partners together on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Umpqua Community College for a day filled with excitement, connection and celebration. From free school supplies, haircuts, food and family-friendly activities to live entertainment and community resources, this year’s event is designed to spark confidence, inspire learning and help every student start the school year strong.
What to expect at the Bash:
- Free school supplies
- Free haircuts
- Free food and ice cream
- The WOW Truck
- Cost-free sports physicals and vaccines
- Student club and team showcases and performances
- Dozens of family-friendly activities, games and prizes for preschool through college age students
- Community resources for families
The cost-free sports physicals and vaccines make the Bash a same-day option worth mentioning to families who cannot get an appointment before school starts, and it pairs naturally with this month’s back-to-school immunization article.
For more information, go to thriveumpqua.com/backtoschool. Community members can also support the event by volunteering with the Set-Up Crew, Welcome and Wayfinding Team, Activity Zone Assistants or Clean-Up Crew. Whether you are representing an organization or volunteering as an individual, there is an opportunity to help make the 2026 Back to School Bash another memorable day for Douglas County families. To learn more or sign up to volunteer, visit bit.ly/b2svolunteer2026.
Help Close Your Care Gaps with Prevention First
Prevention First has been live since July and the year is moving quickly. All qualifying services must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. August is the right time to help your patients plan ahead, because screenings with longer scheduling lead times, such as colonoscopies and mammograms, need to get on the calendar soon.
Here is a quick refresher on how the program works. Umpqua Health Alliance members 18 and older can earn a $15 Sherm’s Thunderbird Market gift card for each qualifying preventive service they complete by Dec. 31, 2026, up to $75 total. Qualifying services include the annual physical exam, flu shot, A1c test, cholesterol (lipid) panel, mammogram, colon cancer screening, dental cleaning and exam, and depression screening with follow-up if indicated. Gift cards are mailed quarterly after claims verification. Limitations and restrictions apply.
One visit can earn your patients multiple rewards. A single fall appointment can include an annual physical, a flu shot, a depression screening and an A1c test. That combination earns $60 toward the $75 maximum in a single visit. A patient with diabetes can complete the set with a dental cleaning and exam.
Your office staff can make participation easy. Members submit their own reward requests by scanning the QR code on the Prevention First flyer after a visit and the form takes less than two minutes to complete. Please share these tips with your team:
- Keep flyers at checkout and invite patients to scan the QR code before they leave, while the visit is fresh in their minds.
- Remind patients that services completed on different days require a separate form for each visit date.
- Let patients know that gift cards are mailed within the quarter. This gives your staff a ready answer when patients ask about their cards.
Transportation does not need to stand between your patients and their preventive care. Members who need help getting to an appointment may qualify for free rides, and they can call 1-877-324-8109 to arrange one.
Thank you for your partnership in helping members complete the preventive care they may already be due for. Your encouragement during a visit is often the reason a patient follows through. If you have questions, would like printed flyers for your office or want the latest program details, please contact Dani Everson, Population Health Program Manager, at deverson@umpquahealth.com.
Cow Creek Healthy Living Events: Canning Class and Grocery Tour
The Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center’s Healthy Living Team, ts’amx yuwax tamiinsii, is hosting two free events in August focused on healthy eating and diabetes prevention. Registration is required for both, and they are wonderful options to mention to patients working on nutrition and diabetes goals.
August Cooking Demonstration: “Home Canning: A Way to Improve Our Eye Health.” Join the Healthy Living Team to learn the fundamentals of safe home canning while exploring how nutritious foods can support diabetes management and overall eye health. This beginner-friendly class is perfect for anyone interested in learning how to safely can vegetables, and each participant will prepare and take home a jar of customized, canned carrots. Food samples, recipes, and gifts come with each class. Two sessions are offered: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Healthy Teaching Kitchen, 2589 NW Edenbower Blvd., Roseburg, and Thursday, Aug. 27, 2 to 3 p.m. at the CCH&WC South Campus, 480 Wartahoo Lane, Canyonville. RSVP to 541-672-8533 and press 2 for Roseburg.
Grocery Shopping Tour. Join the Healthy Living Team in navigating toward foods to prevent or manage diabetes. Together, participants will spot xuma ts’amx (healthy foods) and share simple ways to design snacks and meals. The dietitian-led tour takes place Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2 to 3 p.m. at Sherm’s Thunderbird Market in Roseburg. To sign up or learn more, contact the Roseburg Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center front desk at 541-672-8533, option 2. For printed flyers for your office, contact Dani Everson at deverson@umpquahealth.com.
Network News
Network Changes
Termed Providers
The following providers have been removed from the Umpqua Health Alliance network:
| Provider Name | Effective Date | Facility |
| Aric Groshong, MD | 07/01/2026 | Cow Creek Health And Wellness |
| Laurel Jeffrey, LMFT | 07/10/2026 | Roseburg Therapy dba Stronger Oregon |
| Rebekah Kross, QMHA | 07/10/2026 | Adapt Integrated Health Care – MH Division |
| Celeste Huffaker, LCSW | 07/10/2026 | Juniper Tree Counseling |
| Carmela Solimine, MD | 07/15/2026 | Aviva Health Center Roseburg |
| Julie Stark, PAC | 07/10/2026 | CEP America – Roseburg |
| Brent Murdock, DO | 07/10/2026 | CEP America – Anesthesiology |
| Jeffrey Skanchy, MD | 07/10/2026 | CEP America – Anesthesiology |
| Tonya Koonz, PAC | 06/30/2026 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove |
| Larry Jones, QMHP-Cert | 07/23/26 | Adapt Integrated Health – MH Division |
| Leandra Gambee, MSN, GNP | 09/30/25 | CRM Physicians abn Ascent Healthcare |
| Tynel Housey, QMHP-C | 07/17/26 | Alliance for Community Wellness dba HIV Alliance |
| Sara Flores, NP | 07/17/26 | PeaceHealth Medical Group – Florence |
| Julie Scalisi, RD | 07/24/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove |
| Brett White, PAC | 07/22/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove |
| Jonathan Egbert, MD | 07/18/26 | Evergreen Family Medicine Urgent Care |
| Lynn Hill, PSS-AMH | 08/01/26 | Adapt Integrated Health Care – MH Division |
| Adriane McPheeters, MSN | 07/31/26 | Boulder Care Provider Group PA |
| Aleisha Orr, FNP | ||
| Andrew Mossman, NP | ||
| Cartney Kesten, AGPCNP-BC | ||
| Donald Shewmake, MSN | ||
| Dorothy Oliveira, APRN | ||
| Eduard Breyman, MSN | ||
| Elizabeth Ryan, MD | ||
| Elizabeth Corwin, MD | ||
| Heather Kelly, FNP | ||
| Jessica Pearl, DNP | ||
| Jill Toca, MSN | ||
| Jodi Bostwick, PMHNP | ||
| Karen Ditchey, NP | ||
| Karlyn Nieland, MSN | ||
| Kate Gates, MSN | ||
| Katelyn Rodgers, MS, AGPCNP | ||
| Kathleen Walker, MSN | ||
| Kristen Wright, MSN, FNP | ||
| Lauren Hood, FNP | ||
| Leanna Wilson, FNP | ||
| Lindsay Erdmann, MSN, FNP | ||
| Lindsay Mackey-Laudermilch, MSN, FNP | ||
| Marco More, DNP, FNP | ||
| Melanie Clauson, NP | ||
| Melody Avila, MSN, FNP-C | ||
| Mia Michalak, NP | ||
| Michelle Rensel, FNP | ||
| Morgan Lu, DNP | ||
| Na’Sha Onuoha, MSN, PMHNP | ||
| Nicole Knust, MSN, FNP | ||
| Nicole Starks, APRN | ||
| Susanne Johnson, FNP | ||
| Tracy Szirony, FNP | ||
| Ulrika Agnew, MD | ||
| Alexander Spritzer, PMHNP | 07/31/26 | Affect Therapeutics, Inc |
| Alison Greenlee, MSW, LCSW | ||
| Allison Carter, MSN, PMHNP-BC | ||
| Bryan Lankford, MSN, AGACNP-BC | ||
| Camryn Cox, BA, CADC-I | ||
| Christian Bakker, CADC-II | ||
| Christopher Kennedy, MSN, PMHNP | ||
| Domonique Louis, PMHNP-BC | ||
| Heather Youngs, LPC | ||
| Jason Williamson, CADC-I, LPC | ||
| Jessica Hunnel, CADC | ||
| Jessica Pericles, MPS, PMHNP | ||
| Kathryn McNeil, MSN, PMHNP-BC | ||
| Larissa Miller, CABD-II | ||
| Laura Long, CADC-I | ||
| Nikki Gray, CADC-II | ||
| Patrick Donnelly, PSS | ||
| Shicara Irvin, MSN, APRN | ||
| Sierra Bennett, CADC-I | ||
| Suzette Harvey, CADC-I | ||
| Akiko Nakamura, LCSW | 07/31/26 | Charlie Health Medical PA |
| Aktsa Simon, PMHNP | ||
| Amber Latham, CADC-II | ||
| Anastasia Theisen, LMFT | ||
| Jennifer Fraga, LCSW | ||
| Eryn Patchett, LMFT | ||
| Ashley Burnette, LPC | ||
| Ashley Johnson, LCSW | ||
| Chad Sanchez, LPC | ||
| Claire Streeter, NP | ||
| Eli Muhrer, MD | ||
| Sarah Mitchiner, MSW, LCSW | ||
| Shanell Holmes, LPC | ||
| Suvekchya Subedi, MSN, PMHNP | ||
| Alyssa Miller-Nur, MSW, LCSW | 07/31/26 | Charlie Health Intensive Outpatient Clinic |
| Emily Callahan, MSN, PMHNP | ||
| Heather Olney, MSW, LCSW | ||
| Helena Chiles, MSN | ||
| Klarissa Meinholtz, MA, LPC | ||
| Larissa Sutphen, APRN | ||
| Louis Poeltl, LPC | ||
| Magdalena Lloyd, MSW, LCSW | ||
| Omolola Omoyemi Akinnodi, PMHNP | ||
| Rachel Tumlos, MA, LMFT | ||
| Shawnna Punteney, LPC | ||
| Tara Fuller, PMHNP | ||
| Tracye Valentine, LPC | ||
| Willine Louis, APRN | ||
| Yetunde Fadeyibi, PMHNP |
New Providers
The following providers have joined the Umpqua Health Alliance network:
| Provider Name | Effective Date | Facility |
| Daniel Arrigotta, DMD | 06/05/2026 | Aviva Health Dental Clinic – Roseburg |
| Paul Marchand, MD | 07/02/26 | PeaceHealth Florence – Emergency Medicine |
| Krisanda Williams, LPC | 06/26/26 | PeaceHealth – Florence Psychiatry |
| Joe Wang, DO | 07/01/26 | Galen Inpatient |
| Lauren Mays, MD | 07/09/26 | CEP America – Emergency Medicine |
| Barbara Murray, CHW | 07/16/26 | Evergreen Family Medicine – Edenbower |
| Kathryn Ashton, PMHNP | 07/21/26 | Bridges Community Health |
| Elizabeth Carle, RD | 07/21/26 | Mom’s Meals |
| Cole Carter, CRM | 07/21/26 | Cow Creek Health & Wellness |
| Brittany Chapman, QMHP | 07/21/26 | Willamette Family Inc |
| Cassie Cooper, NP | 07/21/26 | Healogics Specialty Physicians of Oregon |
| Kimbra Epps, FNP | 07/21/26 | Renew Women’s Wellness |
| Jessica Harris, MA-CMHC | 07/21/26 | Bridges Community Health |
| Michael Heath, MD | 07/21/26 | Weese Dermatology |
| Anthony Hernandez, FNP | 07/21/26 | Willamette Family Treatment Services |
| Grace Hsieh, MD | 07/21/26 | M2 Anesthesia PLC |
| Eunji Kong, BCBA | 07/21/26 | Positive Behavior Support Corp |
| Anna Loughran | 07/21/26 | Bridges Community Health |
| Nicole Nevan, APRN | 07/21/26 | Options Counseling Services of Oregon dba Options Counseling and Family Services |
| Toby Palm, OD | 07/21/26 | Palm Family Eyecare |
| Daneil Sheerin, MD | 07/21/26 | Slocum Orthopedics |
| Jenny Tausch, PMHNP | 07/21/26 | Monarch Mental Health |
| Jason Tavakolian, MD | 07/21/26 | Slocum Orthopedics |
| Brandon Wilkinson, MD | 07/21/26 | Slocum Orthopedics |
| Yeuming Xiao, BCBA | 07/21/26 | Positive Behavior Supports Corp |
| Steven Brantley, DO | 07/21/26 | Umpqua Health Newton Creek |
| Rebecca Palmer, MD | 07/06/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove |
| Anthony Anker, MD | 07/06/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove |
| Grayson Carter, DO | 07/06/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove |
| Robert Onchaga, NP | 07/06/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove |
| Raktham Mekritthikrai, MD | 07/06/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center |
| Jeffrey Tran, MD | 07/06/26 | PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center |
| Jazmin Cookes, LPC | 07/14/26 | Adapt Integrated Health – MH Division |
| Samantha Weyhrauch, CADC | 07/15/26 | Adapt Integrated Health – SUD Division |
| Asha Latha Guntupalli, MD | 07/13/26 | PeaceHealth – Cottage Grove Community Medical Center |
| Brenda Smith, MD | 07/10/26 | PeaceHealth – Cottage Grove |
| Jessi Cox, MD | 07/10/26 | PeaceHealth – Cottage Grove |
| Tyler Ronnfeldt, MD | 07/20/26 | PeaceHealth – Cottage Grove |
| Vernon Stewart, MD | 07/20/26 | PeaceHealth – Cottage Grove |
| Jennifer Olson, MD | 07/01/26 | PeaceHealth – Florence BH |
| Jeffrey Blackmon, MD | 07/27/26 | Evergreen Family Medicine South |
| Dana Martin, CNM | 07/27/26 | Evergreen Family Medicine – Harvard |
On the Lookout
2025 Annual Regional Communicable Disease Report
Regions include Coos, Douglas & Josephine Counties
The following report is provided by our public health partners at Douglas Public Health Network.
9 Outbreaks Investigated
- (1) Pertussis
- (4) Influenza
- (1) COVID-19
- (3) Norovirus
Over 1,250 Cases Reported. Confirmed & presumptive cases of infectious diseases
Most Common Diseases
- Chlamydia
- Hepatitis C
- Campylobacter
- Pertussis
Hepatitis C
The number of new hepatitis C infections in our region are decreasing, largely due to harm reduction efforts like syringe exchange & highly effective antiviral treatments that can cure most infections in about 12 weeks. Public health reviews hepatitis C treatment in July 2025 to identify inequities and barriers to treatment, which informs public health outreach to prevent new infections and morbidity and mortality from hepatitis C. We can provide support to providers developing treatment plans or referral options and education and support to patients to address barriers.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, & syphilis have been gradually declining since 2020. However, there was one congenital syphilis case in 2025 & 17 new HIV diagnoses in our region, reinforcing the need for continued screening & prevention.
Re-Emerging Disease: Pertussis
The most notable infectious disease reemergence last year was pertussis, a highly contagious bacterial disease that spreads via droplets when someone sneezes or coughs. It is often mistaken for a cold at early stages but can cause severe disease in infants and immunocompromised people. Oregon has not reported as many cases in the state since 1950. This increase is due to a decrease in vaccination rates and waning immunity from acellular vaccines that have a shorter duration of protection. Early antibiotic treatment can help reduce spread.
Tropical/Exotic Disease
One case of chikungunya was identified in a returning traveler. This mosquito-borne viral infection (spread by Aedes species) highlights the importance of obtaining recent travel history in patients with fever.
Special Populations
Public health closely monitors infections that primarily affect immunocompromised patients, including Legionella, coccidioidomycosis, and CRE (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales). Sources are often environmental & may be difficult to identify.
2025 Case Counts by County
| Disease Group | Disease Name | Coos County | Douglas County | Josephine County | Total |
| Population | 64,212 | 112,435 | 87,821 | 264,468 | |
| Hepatitis | Hepatitis C | 39 | 57 | 73 | 169 |
| Hepatitis | Hepatitis B | * | * | * | 3 |
| Sexually Transmitted | Chlamydia | 103 | 142 | 126 | 371 |
| Sexually Transmitted | Gonorrhea | * | 24 | 30 | 63 |
| Sexually Transmitted | Syphilis | 27 | 14 | 14 | 55 |
| Sexually Transmitted | HIV | 10 | * | * | 17 |
| Food Borne | E. Coli | 10 | 30 | 12 | 52 |
| Food Borne | Campylobacter | 42 | 82 | 29 | 153 |
| Food Borne | Salmonella | 13 | 20 | 17 | 50 |
| Food Borne | Cryptosporidium | * | * | * | 18 |
| Food Borne | Giardia | * | 10 | * | 24 |
| Food Borne | Listeria | * | * | * | 3 |
| Food Borne | Shigella | * | * | 10 | 13 |
| Food Borne | Yersinia | * | * | * | 12 |
| Food Borne | Cyclosporiasis | * | * | * | 2 |
| Food Borne | Vibrio | * | * | * | 2 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Coccidiomycosis | * | * | * | 4 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales | * | * | * | 16 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Haemophilus influenzae | * | * | * | 9 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Pediatric EBLL (lead) | * | * | * | 12 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Adult EBLL (lead) | * | * | * | 14 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Nontuberculous Mycobacteria | * | * | * | 4 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Pertussis | 61 | 14 | 90 | 165 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Rabies (bats & foxes) | * | * | * | 10 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Chikungunya | * | * | * | 1 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Cryptococcus | * | * | * | 2 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Legionella | * | * | * | 9 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Tuberculosis | * | * | * | 1 |
| Other Miscellaneous | Tularemia | * | * | * | 1 |
* = less than 10
Dental Digest
Back-to-School Dental Checklist
The start of a new school year is always a busy and exciting time. Between shopping for supplies, adjusting to new schedules and getting kids ready for the classroom, it’s easy to overlook one important part of your child’s health: their teeth. A healthy smile is more than just a confidence booster. It directly affects a child’s ability to focus, learn and thrive at school.
Children who experience poor oral health are more likely to miss school and struggle academically. The good news? With a little preparation, you can set your child up for success both in the classroom and in the dentist’s chair.
To help you get started, here’s your Back-to-School Dental Checklist, everything you need to know about dental exams, preventive care and even healthy lunch ideas for starting the school year off right.