The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) shared late last week that they submitted a Section 1115 Waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to request a COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund. This waiver, like the one that OHA previously submitted (detailed here), are generally used during emergencies like the current COVID-19 pandemic. In OHA’s […]
All our member CCOs are doing a wonderful job filling gaps and providing services to their members, and this week we are focusing on Cascade Health Alliance of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Late last week, Cascade Health Alliance (CHA) got an email from Basin Transit, alerting them to the fact that starting now, no one will […]
In Portland every night at 7:00 p.m., Oregonians gather on their porches and front lawns to bang together pots and pans, play their drums or other instruments, and cheer for health care providers working to keep our communities safe during this pandemic. Do health care workers and providers hear our cheers and thanks? What do […]
Last week, we reported on the early release of 2019 incentive dollars to Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs). Following this early release, COHO CCOs have been working hard to allocate these funds quickly and responsibly while keeping their members at the center of all decisions. First, we should talk about what incentive funds are. Each year, […]
You may think that hospitals and health care providers are incredibly busy caring for those that have contracted the novel coronavirus, but in our state where only 303 patients are currently hospitalized for COVID-19, this pandemic has actually increased costs and decreased revenue, causing a major cash crunch across our health care system. The cash […]
Are you worried that you might have the novel coronavirus, but think you might not meet the criteria to be officially tested? Last week, the State of Oregon launched a “Coronavirus Checker” online program that checks your symptoms and gives you advice based on clinical best practices, current CDC guidelines, illness severity, and risk factors […]
Health care providers know that when facing a pandemic like the novel coronavirus, the more we test Oregonians for it, the clearer the picture is for what our state needs to prepare for. However, creating the type of accurate modeling needed to give public health officials a clear answer is made more difficult by the […]
With the creation of Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) came regulations to ensure progress toward the Triple Aim:better health, better care, and lower cost for Oregonians enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan. One of the ways to hold CCOs accountable for positive health outcomes was to provide “health metrics” tied to a financial incentive for CCOs, […]
All our member CCOs are doing a fantastic job filling gaps for their members during this critical time, and this week, we decided to highlight an exciting pilot project by Trillium Community Health Plan! Through this crisis, we know every single Oregonian will be affected in one way or another. The difficult part is identifying […]
For years, health care reform has been a major platform for many candidates running for public office, as well as a key legislative priority for many Oregon legislators. Whether it’s decreasing the prices of pharmaceutical drugs, increasing the number of insured Oregonians, or ensuring underrepresented communities receive the care that they need, we have been […]