New Coordinated Care Organizations approved for Oregon Health Plan

Today's News Release from the Oregon Health Authority outline five new Coordinated Care Organizations approved to begin service on September 1st, 2012.

July 31, 2012

Contact: Patty Wentz, 503-932-6243

New Coordinated Care Organizations approved for Oregon Health Plan

Five new Coordinated Care Organizations will begin serving Oregon Health Plan members in September, the Oregon Health Authority announced today.

In total, there are 13 approved Coordinated Care Organizations serving 33 counties in the Oregon. By Sept. 1 more than 500,000 adults and children – the majority of Oregon Health Plan members – will have access to a CCO.

“In Oregon we are showing that it is possible to build a health care system around patients and their providers for better health and reduced costs,” said Governor John Kitzhaber. “These new Coordinated Care Organizations will be leading the way for everyone in our state.”

Oregon Coordinated Care Organizations to start September 1

Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization, LLC – All of Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. Parts of Coos and Douglas counties.

Eastern Oregon Community Care Organization – Baker, Malheur, Sherman, Union, Wallowa Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Lake, Morrow, Umatilla and Wheeler counties.

Jackson County Coordinated Care Organization, LLC – Jackson County.

PrimaryHealth of Josephine County, LLC – Josephine County and parts of Douglas and Jackson counties.

Tri-County Medicaid Collaborative – Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.

Under Coordinated Care Organizations, benefits for Oregon Health Plan clients will not change. The vision of CCOs is to allow providers better ways to address health care problems.

To see full list of Coordinated Care Organizations, go towww.health.oregon.gov.

OHP members will receive personal notification of their new Coordinated Care Organization, and they do not need to take any action. More information for members and providers can be found at health.oregon.gov.

Through a waiver from the federal government, Oregon has flexibility to provide more preventive care and disease management than has been possible under traditional Medicaid guidelines. Research shows that 80 percent of health care costs are driven by 20 percent of patients, many with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and serious mental illness. CCOs will have the ability to hire community-based health workers to help people manage their conditions, ensure they are taking appropriate medications, and avoid unnecessary acute or emergency care. By focusing on improved health, Oregon has agreed to reduce Medicaid inflation by 2 percentage points within two years by focusing on improving the health of clients to reduce waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary expenditures.

# # #