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This week we gave Oregon lawmakers an update on the Oregon Health Plan. We also shared information about what is coming next for health system transformation. This week I want to share highlights of that presentation with you. You can also see the presentation here.
More than 302,000 Oregonians have gained health care coverage through the Oregon Health Plan since January. Most of the new enrollees receive services through their local coordinated care organization. So many people joining the system at the same time – whether through OHP or newly available private coverage – will fundamentally change health care in our state.
First is the fact that many Oregonians now have access to services they have never had before. Research shows this brings reduced medical debt and greater economic security. It also means that with so many people coming in at once, local CCOs are taking steps to help. That can include reaching out to new clients to determine what their needs are and connecting people to primary care. Patient-centered services such as these are the heart of health system transformation.
Of course, access to services is an issue, particularly in the rural parts of our state and it won’t be solved quickly. It will take both short- and long-term actions. In future messages I will share more about what is happening on the ground across the state.
Lawmakers also heard from Tina Edlund and Clyde Hamstreet about the progress of the Cover Oregon IT Transition Project. This project is charged with moving the commercial health care enrollment process to the federal insurance exchange technology, and moving OHP eligibility and enrollment to OHA, by November of this year. You can find project documents and more information here.
As we move forward together to the next phase of health system transformation, I want to make sure everyone at OHA has the most current information directly from me or your managers. In this space every week I will do my best to keep you updated. I want to also thank all of you who have participated in person or via email message in the OHA face-to-face meetings with leadership. Leslie Clement, Linda Hammond and I will be at the Portland State Office Building Wednesday, June 4, at 2:30. I hope you can join us – you can RSVP here.
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