June 28, 2012—“The Supreme Court’s decision today is great news for Oregonians,” says Ralph Prows, MD, Oregon’s Health CO-OP’s newly named Chief Executive Officer. The ruling upheld the creation of state health exchanges and CO-OPs nationwide, along with the other key components of the Affordable Care Act.
Oregon’s Health CO-OP, a Consumer Oriented and Operated Plan now being formed, will offer health insurance on Oregon’s exchange when it launches in 2014. According to Prows, Oregon’s Health CO-OP will offer consumer-driven health insurance that puts the member first, and will be open to any eligible Oregonians wishing to join.
“While awaiting the Supreme Court decision, Oregon’s Health CO-OP continued to move forward in creating an affordable, accountable, consumer-governed health plan for Oregonians,” says Prows. “Today’s news confirms the value and importance of ensuring health care opportunities for all. We’re moving full steam ahead.”
“We now have two things to celebrate, the Supreme Court’s ruling and bringing on our new CEO,” said Cory Streisinger, CO-OP board member. “Ralph’s experience as both a practicing physician and health plan executive here in the state, the care he’s provided personally to Oregonians who have no health coverage, and his knowledge of health care transformation will be great assets as we move forward to create a new kind of health plan.”
Dr. Prows had been with Regence since 2004, first as Senior Medical Director for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and since 2010 as the Chief Medical Officer for Regence in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah.
Prior to joining Regence, Dr. Prows was the Chief Executive Officer of The Corvallis Clinic, the largest private multi-specialty clinic in the mid-Willamette Valley. He has served as chairman and serves on the board of directors for Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation. He also serves on the board of directors and sees patients as a volunteer physician at North by Northeast Community Health Center.
Prior to coming to Oregon, Dr. Prows practiced internal medicine in San Antonio and taught internal medicine at the University of Massachusetts where he also served as medical director for Central Massachusetts Health Care.
Dr. Prows earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at Oschner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
New board members named
Three new members also have joined the CO-OP board of directors. They are:
- Shirley Cate, president and chief executive, Providence Federal Credit Union
- Susan King, MS, RN, executive director, Oregon Nurses Association
- Ron Williams, executive director, Oregon Action
They will join organizing board members Ed Blackburn, CO-OP chairman and executive director of Central City Concern; Brian Rohter, co-founder of New Seasons; and Cory Streisinger, former head of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services and Oregon Insurance Commissioner.
For more information, contact Jeanie Lunsford.
About Oregon’s Health CO-OP
Oregon’s Health CO-OP (incorporated as Community Care of Oregon) is a Consumer Oriented and Operated Plan, a not-for-profit insurance entity, with a member-majority operational board, organized under provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
In March, the CO-OP received notice that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would award the funds necessary to finance the new plan, approximately $50 million in loans over the next several years.
Under terms of the law, the CO-OP will have an Oregon-based board of directors and advisory council, including a majority who are members.
For more information, see http://www.ORHealthCO-OP.org.”
