Charlie Health Responds to Gov. Kotek’s Comment on Virtual Mental Healthcare

SALEM OREGON — Charlie Health, the leading intensive outpatient mental healthcare program in Oregon, responded Friday to Governor Tina Kotek’s statement regarding Certificate of Approval (COA) providers treating patients via telehealth. Charlie Health agrees that virtual care and strong oversight are critical, yet maintains that access to behavioral healthcare statewide remains at risk. 

On Thursday, responding to a statewide ad campaign urging Gov. Kotek to Save Virtual Care, the governor’s spokesperson said: “These ads are misleading — virtual care is not being eliminated in Oregon. The Governor supports the use of telehealth in Oregon which has helped increase access across the state. To ensure quality of care, the Oregon Health Authority has a Certificate of Approval review process to ensure behavioral health organizations that are serving clients with Medicaid are providing appropriate oversight and supervision of staff providing care. This is an important measure that helps to maintain the quality of care.”

A spokesperson for Charlie Health said:

“We agree with Governor Kotek: telehealth access is crucial, particularly in an ongoing statewide mental health crisis. Certificates of Approval (COAs) are critical oversight tools and we continue to welcome them. But the governor is being misled about the status of virtual care in Oregon. We are hearing from some at OHA a new view that COAs should not apply to virtual care services, meaning OHA will not allow COA providers to offer virtual care for suicidal and at risk patients. That would leave thousands of rural Oregonians in need with no option but to drive two or three hours a day several days a week. That cannot happen.

“After receiving our COA in 2021, OHA renewed our COA in 2023, and there have been no changes to our standards of care over that time. The only change over the past year is that several brick and mortar providers have been complaining that they are losing revenue. That’s why suddenly OHA has begun to suggest that they will prevent COA providers from treating patients via telehealth, despite our track record of outcomes equal or superior to brick and mortar care.

“Thousands of Oregonians would lose access to lifesaving support if OHA puts the interests of in-person providers above patient care.  We urge the Governor to hold OHA accountable and ensure that they uphold her commitment to accessibility of behavioral health for all Oregonians. And that virtual care remains an option for patients statewide.

“Patients are on our side. Oregonians are on our side. And the law is on our side. This is too serious for political gamesmanship and Charlie Health is here to stay.”

##