March 1, 2011

Oregon's Action Plan for Health

In 2009, the Oregon Legislature created the Oregon Health Policy Board and charged it with creating a comprehensive health reform plan for our state. Oregon's Action Plan for Health meets that charge by laying out strategies that reflect the urgency of the health care crisis and a timeline for actions that will lead Oregon to a more affordable, world-class health care system.

Oregon Health Connect
Oregonians struggling to find medical care or health insurance have a new resource. The state has launched a website and toll-free phone line to help connect consumers with local programs and information to meet their needs. Oregon Health Connect is a joint effort between two state agencies, the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Oregon Health Authority.

The site also provides information about health reform and how health insurance in Oregon works. Use the directories and links to search for health care services, health clinics, and insurance options. You can help spread the word about Oregon Health Connect by adding a badge to your website.

Health System Transformation Team
The Health System Transformation Team, chartered by the Oregon Health Policy Board at the request of Governor Kitzhaber, is developing a common vision and guidance for planning a new, integrated health and services delivery system for Oregon's Medicaid programs, which can then be built upon for broader statewide markets. The plan will better coordinate all benefits for our Medicaid clients -- including physical health, mental health and addiction services, oral health, long-term care and social support services -- through more integrated care. The team continues to meet weekly. Meetings are currently scheduled through March 23. 

Questions being addressed by the team are also available for public comment on OHA Feedback. Questions are updated weekly!

Official: State can take lead in care
A top federal official said Thursday that he's looking to Oregon as a model for providing better care and improving people's health while restraining costs — all goals of the national health-care overhaul that Congress passed a year ago.

Kitzhaber announces agency chiefs; Goldberg will lead Health Authority
Dr. Bruce Goldberg will lead only the Oregon Health Authority, and Erinn Kelley-Siel will take over as acting director of the rest of the Department of Human Services, as part of a reshuffling announced today by Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Centered on the patient
LEBANON - Laughter comes easily to Walt Rebman, who is known around town as "the tractor guy" because he enjoys tilling the school district's Planting Seeds of Change vegetable gardens.

Medical Homes - Coordinating care for sickest patients improves health, saves money
Several years ago, Kathleen Dolan said, medical bills drove her into bankruptcy and homelessness.

'Medical home' strategy aims to boost quality, cut costs with better primary health care
The primary care practice is one of many in Oregon and across the nation attempting to transform the quality of medical care – and hold down costs – by giving people a stable, well-coordinated "medical home.

The Oregon Health Policy Board's other committees are on hold until after the Health System Transition Team's work is completed.

The next Oregon Health Policy meeting will take place Mar. 8, 2011.

Connect with us: Use Facebook.com/OregonHealthAuthority and Twitter.com/OHAOregon to find out about OHA events, public input opportunities, transition updates, and federal and state health reform news.

Send input and comments to OHPB at ohpb.info@state.or.us
View calendar of health reform meetings

The Oregon Health Authority is the organization at the forefront of lowering and containing costs, improving quality, and increasing access to health care in order to improve the lifelong health in Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority is overseen by the nine-member citizen Oregon Health Policy Board working towards comprehensive health and health care reform in our state.