Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen is hitting the road this summer to engage Oregonians in a conversation about the future of the Oregon Health Plan. Allen is scheduled to travel to 10 communities (Astoria, Bend, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Hermiston, Hood River, Klamath Falls, Ontario, Portland and Springfield) to discuss how far Oregon’s health transformation has come and where it’s going, and to get feedback on proposed policy options to improve the state’s coordinated care system. The end of the first five-year contracts with coordinated care organizations (CCOs) marks an opportunity for the Oregon Health Policy Board to work with stakeholders to improve the services that 1 million Oregonians receive through the Oregon Health Plan. CCOs are community-governed organizations that bring together physical, mental health, addiction medicine, and dental health providers to coordinate care for people on the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). Since 2012 Oregon’s coordinated care model has saved taxpayers an estimated $2.2 billion, while also reducing unnecessary emergency department visits, and improving preventive care for children and adults. On June 5 OHA presented policy options and strategies to the Oregon Health Policy Board to shape the next five years of health care coverage offered through the Oregon Health Plan. The policy options were informed by public input gathered this spring through surveys, community forums, in-person and online stakeholder meetings, and emails. The policies focus on four priority improvement areas identified by Governor Kate Brown: Maintain sustainable cost growth. Increase value-based payments that pay for performance. Focus on social determinants of health and equity. Improve the behavioral health system. OHA will continue to gather public input on the policy options throughout the summer, and the Oregon Health Policy Board will adopt final recommendations this fall. Coordinated care contracts for 2020-2025 are expected to be awarded in summer 2019. For more information, visit the CCO 2.0 webpage. Meetings on the Oregon Coast: Wednesday, June 27: Astoria, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Astoria Armory, 1636 Exchange Street; Coos Bay, 7-9 p.m., Red Lion Inn, 1313 N Bayshore Drive.
