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January 2011 Oregon Health Policy Board Update This e-bulletin provides updates on the Oregon Health Policy Board's (OHPB) and Oregon Health Authority's (OHA) health reform work. You received this bulletin because you are subscribed to an OHA or OHPB e-mail notification service. Oregon's Action Plan for Health available online In 2009, the Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Health Policy Board and charged it with creating a comprehensive health reform plan. OHPB created Oregon's Action Plan for Health, which meets that charge by laying out strategies that reflect the urgency of the health crisis and a timeline for actions that will lead Oregon to a more affordable, world-class health care system and improve the health of the state. Over the past 12 months the Board has heard from hundreds of Oregonians around the state — individuals, small business owners, policymakers, members of the health care community, and state and local government. Everyone is facing the same challenges: costs are too high, outcomes are unsatisfactory and care is fragmented. The call of the Action Plan is clear: We can do better. We must do better. And we must take action now. To achieve world-class quality of health in Oregon, all recommendations in the plan point toward three important objectives, also known as the "Triple Aim":
The Action Plan for Health and supporting documents are now available online. OHPB to set 2011 agenda at January meeting The board meets on January 18, 2011 to set its priorities and agenda for the year based on the Action Plan for Health. This meeting will be facilitated, rather than a traditional board meeting. The meeting remains open to the public. The agenda and more information will be posted online before the meeting. The board welcomes and encourages input into its 2011 agenda, particularly comments on the board's priorities for 2011 in light of its Action Plan for Health. Please provide any comments by e-mail to ohpb.info@state.or.us. Oregon recognized as national leader in enrolling children for health care Oregon will receive a $15 million bonus award—the fourth largest of any state—for being a national leader in enrolling uninsured children in Medicaid through the Healthy Kids program. Healthy Kids was created by the Legislature in 2009 and set out to enroll 80,000 uninsured children with health care coverage by the end of 2010. To date, they've enrolled 70,000 Oregon children and have received national attention for their vigorous and successful outreach and enrollment efforts. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently wrote, "Oregon has begun taking innovative steps to make sure every child who is eligible for the state's health coverage programs signs up." The Oregonian Editorial Board wrote that "Oregon is justly rewarded for seeking out children eligible for public health insurance," and Oregon was also highlighted in the New York Times story about the bonuses. "This is great news for Oregon and comes just as we're closing in on our enrollment goals for uninsured kids," said Cathy Kaufmann, administrator of the Office of Healthy Kids in the Oregon Health Authority. To qualify for the bonuses, states had to meet performance goals of taking specific steps to streamline their enrollment and renewal processes to make it easier for families with eligible children to gain coverage and documenting a significant increase in the number of children enrolled in Medicaid. Oregon qualified for a $15,055,255 bonus this year, an increase of $13,451,919 over the state's 2009 award amount of $1,603,336. 2010 Board materials now available by topic The materials from 2010 Board meetings are now available online by topic on the OHA Materials and Resources webpage. The 2010 Board Meetings page will still be available to find materials or meeting recordings by date. Follow OHA/OHPB through social media Find out about OHA events, public input opportunities, transition updates, and federal and state health reform news. Highlights of December OHA news included in tweets and posts:
Connect with us: Facebook.com/OregonHealthAuthority and Twitter.com/OHAOregon
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The Oregon Health Authority is a leader in the effort to innovate for quality and affordable health care in Oregon, by putting the care back in health care, improving the health of Oregonians, and working to lower the cost of care so it is affordable and accessible to everyone. Find more information at: www.Oregon.gov/OHA or by e-mailing OHA.Info@state.or.us. Connect with us: Facebook.com/OregonHealthAuthority and Twitter.com/OHAOregon |
