In Umatilla County, 39% of residents are on Medicaid. In Malheur County, that number jumps to almost 52%.

Both of these counties and more in Eastern Oregon have higher-than-average rates of Medicaid enrollment compared to the rest of the state. Changes to Medicaid made by the Trump administration will mean major cuts to the program that provides healthcare for many in Oregon.

Ann Ford is the CEO of GOBHI, a mental healthcare provider for this side of the state. She’s also the president of the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization, the group that manages the Oregon Health Plan for much of the east side of the state.

Ford joins us to share the challenges of providing care and what Medicaid cuts could mean for patients.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/21/think-out-loud-medicaid-cuts-eastern-oregon/