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Bend hearing set on future of Oregon Health Plan

KTVZ

(Updated with new location of Bend hearing)

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 nine 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.

June 2018 community meeting schedule

Monday, June 18

Hood River, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Hood River Inn

1108 E Marina Drive

Tuesday, June 19

Hermiston, noon to 2 p.m.

Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center

1750 E Airport Road

Ontario, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Treasure Valley Community College, Weese Building, Room 110

650 College Blvd

Wednesday, June 20

Bend, noon to 2 p.m.

Central Oregon Community College, Wille Hall

2600 NW College Way

Thursday, June 21

Portland, 6-8 p.m.

Madison High School

2735 NE 82nd Ave

Tuesday, June 26

Corvallis, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Oregon State University LaSells Stewart Center

875 SW 26th Street

Springfield, 6-8 p.m.

Holiday Inn

919 Kruse Way

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

Thursday, June 28

Klamath Falls, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Henley Elementary School

8227 Highway 39

Spanish language interpretation services will be available at the meetings.

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Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

Sign language and spoken language interpreters Written materials in other languages Braille Large print Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Lisa Bui at 971-673-3397, 711 TTY, or ui@state.or.us“>Lisa.T.Bui@state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting. OHA will make every effort to provide services for requests made closer to the meeting.

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