Health Care Safety Net Clinics

Oregon's health care safety net is comprised of a broad range of local non-profit organizations, government agencies, and individual providers who share the common mission of delivering health care to persons who experience barriers to accessing the health care services they need.


Health care safety net clinics in Oregon are staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, social workers, community health workers, other health care providers, and volunteers.

Lists of Safety Net providers in Oregon:

     All Safety Net Clinics (pdf)

     Hospitals (pdf)

Maps of Safety Net providers in Oregon:

     Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHC) (pdf)

     Indian/Tribal Clinics (pdf)

     Rural Health Clinics (RHC) (pdf)

     School-Based Health Clinics (SBHC) (pdf)

     Hospitals (pdf)

     Other Safety Net Clinics (pdf)

These clinics vary in terms of size, number/types of professionals employed, client characteristics, service area population density and demographics, diversity and stability of revenue sources, as well as sophistication in practice and business management practices.


Health care safety net clinics are community-based providers who offer health services to low-income people, including those without insurance. Most safety net patients are OHP enrollees, the uninsured, and other vulnerable Oregonians who pay a sliding discounted fee for primary care services. Primary care services provided by the safety net include, but are not limited to:

• Urgent care
• Acute and chronic disease treatment
• Services based on local community need (mental health, dental, and vision)
• Preventive care
• Well childcare
• Enabling services (translation/interpretation, case management, transportation and outreach)

• Assists local communities and clinics to improve access to needed health services
• Designates areas of the state that are health professional shortage areas or are underserved
• Processes waiver applications for up to 30 foreign physicians per year to practice in underserved areas of the state as primary care physicians, specialists, or psychiatrists
• Links Oregon communities with National Health Service Corps practitioners
• Works with the Conference of Local Health Officials (CLHO) and other partners is assisting county governments to claim federal matching dollars needed to provide access to needed health services.

For more information please contact:
Marian Blankenship, MPA
Access Policy Lead
Department of Human Services

Health Systems Planning
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 930
Portland, OR 97232

(971) 673-1322

marian.blankenship@state.or.us