The Focus Group Report : the Universal Health Plan Governance Board and Artemis Consulting
Below is the introduction to the Focus Group Document. Read the full report at the links above
The Universal Health Plan Governance board (UHPGB) held a series of focus groups in March 2026 to gather input on its preliminary recommendations to the Oregon Legislature. The focus groups are part of the UHPGB’s effort to collect input from the public. Since its inception in 2024, the board and its committees have held more than 100 public meetings and have accepted written and verbal public comment. Since 2024, the board has received more than 500 pieces of written and oral testimony from the public offering input on its ideas, analysis, and recommendations. The UHPGB’s engagement efforts build on the work of its predecessor, the Taskforce on Universal Health Care, which conducted roundtables, community listening sessions, and specialty interest forums across Oregon to inform its blueprint for a universal health plan.
The March 2026 focus groups, facilitated by Artemis Consulting, sought input from targeted groups on specific questions and were not intended as a broad community engagement initiative; instead the effort was designed to inform particular aspects of the board’s preliminary recommendations, meet legislative direction, and help address questions that the board and its committees had considered but not yet resolved.
This report to the board presents the input gathered organized by major topics. The report also suggests potential actions the board might take based on the feedback and questions it could explore. Importantly, input from these groups does not reflect all perspectives within any sector; as is always the case with groups like this, participants self-selected. Nor was the process designed to address every aspect of the board’s recommendations. Instead, questions were tailored to each group’s role and experience. Further, while participants heard the board’s preliminary recommendations, they did not have details on all of the board’s deliberations; therefore some of their input and requests may have already been considered by the board.
The Co-Chairs of the Community Engagement and Communications Committee (CECC) and UHPGB staff oversaw the focus group process. This work included identifying participants and questions, preparing summary materials in partnership with a communications consultant, and ensuring a sound and consistent process. To encourage open dialogue, we assured all participants that comments would not be attributed to individuals or organizations, and board members did not participate in the sessions. Additional details about the process are in Appendix A.
The summary materials provided to focus group participants reflected board decisions and deliberations through mid-February 2026; since then, the board has continued to update its materials and preliminary recommendations. Materials shared with focus group participants are attached as Appendix B.
Throughout this report, “participants said” reflects input provided in focus groups; it is not a statement of consensus or universal agreement.
We held focus groups with the following sectors:
Community members
Community-based organizations
Coordinated Care Organizations
Culturally-specific healthcare providers
Disability-led organizations
Health insurers
Hospitals and health systems
Labor unions
Large businesses
Outpatient care providers
Persons who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Small businesses
We hope this input adds to the important feedback the board has received over time through public comment and other engagement efforts and that it will assist the UHPGB as it finalizes its recommendations to the Oregon Legislature and considers its next steps.
