Oregon Revised Statutes Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities; Alcohol and Drug Treatment § 426.020

(1) The superintendent of a hospital referred to in ORS 426.010 shall be a person the Oregon Health Authority considers qualified to administer the hospital. If the superintendent of any hospital is a physician licensed by the Oregon Medical Board, the superintendent shall serve as chief medical officer.

(2) If the superintendent is not a physician, the Director of the Oregon Health Authority or the designee of the director shall designate a physician to serve as chief medical officer. The designated chief medical officer may be an appointed state employee in the unclassified service, a self-employed contractor or an employee of a public or private entity that contracts with the authority to provide chief medical officer services. Unless the designated chief medical officer is specifically appointed as a state employee in the unclassified service, the designated chief medical officer shall not be deemed a state employee for purposes of any state statute, rule or policy.