AllCare Health Creates Safe Space to Quit Tobacco

Quitting tobacco is hard for many reasons. Longtime users not only develop an intense physical addiction to nicotine, but also strong psychological habits and daily routines centered on having cigarettes or smokeless products like chewing tobacco. Whether vape, smoke, or chew, these products pose serious health risks including cancer and heart disease.

Since 2015, AllCare Health has expanded access to its Tobacco Cessation Classes to all community members across Southern Oregon. These free workshops provide a safe, supportive environment for people looking to quit tobacco, focused on identifying triggers, managing cravings, and staying motivated with group support.

You can watch testimonials from program participants by clicking the video below.

Josh Balloch, Vice President of Health Policy and Communications for AllCare, said the key is having consistent opportunities available for someone who wants to quit smoking, because that desire to quit can come and go quickly.

“If they wait a month, they might not do it. The ‘want’ to quit is so narrow,” Balloch said. “We’re building a safe space for them to create that change.”

Workshops are led by Sandra Kalista-Gonzales, Member Wellness Coordinator for AllCare. In-person classes for 2026 are scheduled in Grants Pass, Medford, Brookings, and Cave Junction, as well as online. The program was initially reserved for AllCare members, though Balloch said they have since opened enrollment to anyone using funding from the organization’s Community Benefit Initiative.

It is just one example of how CCOs are making a difference statewide by investing in preventive care, lowering costs while improving long-term health outcomes, Balloch said.

“This is the type of preventive, community-based care that CCOs are really meant to help facilitate,” he said. “In this case, we have a higher rate of smoking than most of the rest of the state, so it made a ton of sense for AllCare to tailor something to reduce that rate.”

According to the Oregon Health Authority, the rate of cigarette smoking among adults statewide was 13% in 2024. Counties in Southern Oregon had higher individual rates, including 21% in Josephine County, 18% in Jackson County, and 19% in Curry County.

But Balloch said the data also show those rates are trending down since AllCare expanded the Tobacco Cessation Program. In particular, Josephine County’s smoking rate for adults was 27.5% from 2014-17. The classes work by giving tools and removing economic barriers for those who want to quit, he said.

“We can definitely say that we have seen these efforts help reduce the overall rate of smoking in our region,” Balloch said. “This is one of the amazing things CCOs are doing on a daily basis. It’s all about improving population health.”

To find a class near you, click here.

McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield Joins Trillium Network

Trillium Community Health Plan is expanding access to care for OHP members in Lane County with the addition of McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield to its provider network. The agreement comes as Trillium officially took over as the sole Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) serving Lane County on Feb. 1.

Members now have in-network access to comprehensive hospital-based and clinical services provided at McKenzie-Willamette, including emergency care, surgical services, obstetrics, cardiovascular services, and other specialty care. This agreement represents another important step in strengthening the local provider network and maintaining continuity of care across Lane County.

The contract with McKenzie-Willamette is just the latest milestone as Trillium has transitioned to serving OHP members who were previously covered by PacificSource Community Solutions. Getting to this point has taken months of careful planning, incorporating public feedback along with one-on-one conversations with legislators, local officials, providers, advocates, and community members.

What’s Happening Now

Ahead of the Feb. 1 “go live” date, Trillium took several steps to prepare for welcoming Lane County members:

  • Member Welcome Packets Sent
    • All new members were sent welcome packets from Trillium, including their ID cards and information about benefits.
  • Customer Service Ready
    • In anticipation of increased call volume, capacity has been significantly expanded at the customer care center to field inquiries.
  • System Testing and Monitoring
    • Extensive end-to-end testing was completed across systems, including prior authorization and claims payment, along with “dress rehearsals” to address potential issues.

To date, Trillium has successfully transitioned about 86,000 former PacificSource members,bringing the total number of Trillium members in Lane County to 127,500. Trillium has also established a Command Center to quickly resolve any issues and monitor daily metrics, including call times, claims, Prior Authorizations, and requests for Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN).

Provider Network Expansion

In addition to McKenzie-Willamette, Trillium has further expanded its network by fully executing contracts with Oregon Medical Group and Best Med.

  • Primary Care
    • At the start of this transition, about 85% of members already had a primary care provider in Trillium’s network. That number is now close to 98%, meaning most members will not need to change their provider.
  • Behavioral Health
    • 275 new behavioral health providers (group and private practice) are being added to the network. Members may continue seeing out-of-network behavioral health providers after the transition-of-care period through prior authorization, which will help prevent disruptions. Outreach to providers is ongoing. Providers interested in contracting are encouraged to connect with Trillium.
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Member Support and Care Coordination

As membership grows, so too has Trillium’s workforce in Lane County.

The organization announced in December that it planned to add 88 new positions, including 45 roles dedicated to customer care — helping members to navigate their coverage, find providers, and connect with services. Hiring has continued steadily in the months since, with 83 of the 88 new positions filled. Trillium continues to recruit for the remaining five positions.

  • For members with complex or high-risk needs, care coordination is available by calling customer service at 1-877-600-5472 and requesting a care coordinator.

Pharmacy and Continuation of Medications

In order to minimize health risks and prevent avoidable complications, Trillium has taken steps to prioritize medication disruption:

  • New members have received up to a 30-day supply of medications they were taking before joining Trillium. This applied within the first 90 days of enrollment, allowing time to transition without gaps.
  • Extended coverage overrides have been put in place for clinically sensitive conditions — including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Additional Updates

  • Trillium has worked with local homeless service organizations to develop a printable, fillable ID card option that community partners can use as needed.
  • Trillium has signed a contract with ORTC Springfield Treatment Center, restoring in-network access to methadone treatment.
  • Trillium will continue to coordinate with the OHA Ombudsman to proactively identify and resolve issues.