From the OR Health Authority

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OR DCs,

 

Oregon Statewide Community Meetings

The Oregon Health Policy Board and the Oregon Health Authority completed three weeks of community meetings in October, covering eight cities and crossing 1,600 miles. Altogether, more than 1,000 people showed up to learn about and discuss CCOs. The meetings were a great opportunity to talk with clients, providers, advocates, tribes, home health care workers, county representatives and others across the state and to listen to their ideas and address their concerns. The interactive meetings were also an important way to ensure that CCOs work in a local and suitable way for diverse stakeholders and communities throughout Oregon.

Overall, participants were supportive of the CCO concept. Many had questions and concerns about how the new approach would be implemented locally and how it would affect providers. Oregon Consensus, a Portland State University organization, facilitated each meeting and provided an overview of common themes shared in each community. Below are the top five themes expressed across all eight meetings. These themes have been shared with the Oregon Health Policy Board, which will help them inform the plan for CCOs to be presented to the Legislature in February.

Comprehensive health care that meets the needs of the whole person is essential.There is a strong desire for the CCO system to include alternative providers such as naturopaths and chiropractors as well as mental health, home care, and dental services. Many saw these services as potential cost saving services and important for creating better health in the community.

Mental health and addiction services should be better integrated into the health care system.Currently, there is a strong sense that mental and addiction services are not well integrated into the health care system. All communities expressed desire for this to change with the implementation of CCOs.

Economic health and community health are linked.Providing more efficient care that creates better health, was seen by many as an important factor in maintaining or creating long-term economic vitality.Provide assistance and support to communities as they develop CCOs.

Many expressed the desire for state support in the development phase, including trainings to local health providers and funding to help coordinate implementation, especially in rural communities.Provide clear direction and metrics to evaluate CCO success.

Many suggested that articulated metrics and goals would both help ensure CCO accountability to OHA and provide CCOs with clear direction when developing and managing CCOs. Suggested indicators of success include reduced emergency room visits, diminished rates of obesity, diabetes, mental illness, among others, and greater awareness in the community about the importance of health.

A. Simpson, DC Vice President, Medical DirectorThe CHP Group | Smart Solutions. Healthy Results.

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