Governor John Kitzhaber
House Bill 3650 requires that Coordinated Care Organizations (CCO) be established to cover physical, dental, and mental health & addictions services. These organizations will be given flexibility and incentives for care that keeps people healthier, including preventive services and team-based care for chronic illnesses. As a result, Oregonians covered under the Oregon Health Plan will have higher quality healthcare, at a lower cost.
On August 3, 2011, Governor Kitzhaber announced the appointments of 133 people, representing a variety of health care interests, and coming from communities across Oregon, to the Oregon Health Policy Board’s four health transformation work groups for House Bill 3650.
“In Oregon, we have already shown the willingness to envision a health care system that works for everyone,” said Governor John Kitzhaber. “These work groups will be critical to making that vision a reality, and I thank everyone who is helping us carry out this effort.”
“Across the state, people are working for better health for Oregonians,” said Eric Parsons, chair of the Oregon Health Policy Board. “We have an opportunity in our state to remake the health system to take a more common sense approach to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The people who have stepped up and volunteered for this work are going to help us get there.”
The work groups will meet between August and November and will inform the development of the final plan sent to the legislature. Upon legislative approval in February 2012, the first CCO would start in 2012.
The four work groups, and a complete list of their members and charters, are listed at http://www.health.oregon.gov.
The Governor’s office and Oregon Health Authority are also working with Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes to ensure they are involved as our state moves forward for better health.
Mental Health & Addictions Well Represented on the Workgroups
Among the 133 people are many familiar to the world of Mental Health & Addictions services, including (but not limited to):
Coordinated Care Organization Criteria Workgroup
Mary Monnat, President & CEO of LifeWorks Northwest;
Jim Russell, Executive Manager of Mid-Valley Behavioral Care;
Ginger Swan, Administrator of Coos County Mental Health.
Global Budget Methodology Workgroup
Kevin Campbell, Director, Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.;
Joanne Fuller, Chief Operating Officer, Multnomah County;
Stanley Gilbert, Executive Director, Klamath Child and Family Treatment Center.
Outcomes, Quality and Efficiency Metrics Workgroup
Maggie Bennington-Davis, Chief Medical & Operating Officer, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare;
Seth Bernstein, Executive Director, Accountable Behavioral Health Alliance;
Maureen Graham, Jackson County Mental Health Division;
Tim Hartnett, Executive Director, CODA, Inc;
Carole Romm, Public Affairs Director, Central City Concern.
Medicare-Medicaid Integration of Care and Services Workgroup
Amy Anderson, Chairperson of Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare’s Consumer Advisory Council;
Megan Caughey, Senior Director of Peer and Wellness Services, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare;
Bob Joondeph, Executive Director, Disability Rights Oregon;
Rachel Solotaroff, M.D., Central City Concern;
Crucita White, Peer Support Specialist, Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs.
Information from The Lund Report and http://www.health.oregon.gov was used in this posting