For patients in the state of Oregon that are eligible for the Oregon Health Plan, or Medicaid, there is a group of health care providers that are considered Coordinated Care Organizations. These Coordinated Care Organizations, or CCOs, are a part of an integrated health system in the state and offer medical treatment for chronic illnesses to reduce the number of visits to emergency rooms and provide specialized care to those that might not otherwise receive it strictly through the state’s health care system.
How it Started
The State of Oregon proposed its plan of creating a better health system for people that qualify for the Oregon Health Plan in 2012. The plan was an answer to the decreased level of quality care for many patients in the state that are in the most need of this care.
How it Works
In the past, state-run organizations have been criticized for delivering care in fragments. The purpose of the CCO is to integrate health care into a comprehensive treatment plan for each patient in the Oregon Health Plan. The Oregon health system is set up to allow budgeting for Coordinated Care Organizations to increase as they have proven positive outcomes in the areas that they service. The CCOs are governed by a partnership including health care providers, community members, and stakeholders in the health system.
Types of CCOs
With the goal of creating a comprehensive treatment plan for each patient, the CCOs encompass physical health, mental health, and even dentistry. With these areas in the health industry covered under one entity, a patient with a chronic disease, such as diabetes, is offered a full range of medical coverage, allowing those that qualify for the Oregon Health Plan to receive treatment with a level of quality that has not been offered in the past.
Cost and Results
An estimated $3 billion dollars will be saved over the next 5 years by integrating CCOs into the Oregon Health Plan. This estimate includes savings from emergency room visits and other emergency services that will be reduced by a comprehensive preventative care program. The program allows for the most vulnerable patients, including the elderly and those that suffer from mental illness, to maintain quality medical coverage while freeing up limited public resources.
Resources
There are 16 CCOs operating in the State of Oregon at this time. They can be researched on the Oregon.gov website. The state site also lists current certifications and specialties for each CCO, as well as governing boards, advisory councils, transportation assistance details, financial reports, and current outcomes by region. One CCO, the Intercommunity Health Network, offers the opportunity to join and learn from a community advisory board. The board is comprised of members of the community that are part of the organization and can help the industry understand the needs and challenges that patients are faced with.
Changing the focus from price and profit to that of patient care and prevention has made a difference in the lives of people throughout the state. CCO models have been proposed in other states, but Oregon remains the only state to implement this comprehensive of a plan.
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