Willamette Valley Community Health isn’t the only coordinated care organization without a CEO following the unexpected departure of William Guest. His replacement has not been announced, and Board Chairwoman Janet Carlson, a Marion County Commissioner, has not responded to media requests about why Guest left his position.
Now it appears as if the Yamhill Community Care CCO finds itself in the same straits. James Carlough, president and CEO, has been placed on administrative leave, and no one’s saying why. Neither Carlough nor anyone at the CCO returned calls by press time.
Carlolugh who joined Yamhill in November 2012 was responsible for coordinating with partner organizations like CareOregon and the Mid-Valley Behavioral Network, which provide claims processing, provider contracting and other services for the CCO.
Last year he earned $252,899, which represented a 21.55 percent increase, while the CCO had accumulated $6.9 million in net income, and spent, on average $345.42 on medical care per member, while having 72.23 days of cash on hand, according to an analysis by The Lund Report.
But its finances tumbled during the first quarter. Yamhill suffered a net loss of $553,814, and had 25,289 members, a slight increase from 2015 of 463 members.
The Oregon Health Authority has not yet released the second quarter financial reports so it’s unknown whether Yamhill’s finances have continued their downward spiral.
In the first quarter, two other CCOs reported losses – FamilyCare and PacificSource Community Solutions in the Gorge.
Yamhill also appeared to do well on the state’s 17 quality metrics, increasing the percentage of 12-21 year olds who had a well-care visit in 2015, and the number of members enrolled in patient-centered primary care.
When Carlough was hired its board chairman, Silas Halloran-Steiner, said, in a formal statement,
“Carlough combines business acumen with a broad knowledge of the community members served by the Oregon Health Plan,” said Silas Halloran-Steiner, YCCO’s board chairman.
“Jim’s experience in senior leadership positions with a diversity of health plans will allow him to make an immediate contribution to Yamhill County Care Organization’s strategic planning and implementation efforts,” Halloran-Steiner said in a formal statement. “Jim has lived with hiswife and children in Newberg since 2005, so he is not only familiar with local concerns, but committed to our community’s well-being.”
At that time, Carlough said he felt deeply committed to vulnerable populations and to the goal of enhancing delivery systems to clients. Earlier, he had worked as a senior manager in provider services for CareOregon, the largest managed care organization serving OHP members.
Diane can be reached at [email protected].
