The restructuring of the Oregon Health Authority has been completed, with seven new divisions now reporting to Lynne Saxton, its director.
They include operations; equity and inclusion; health systems (including behavioral health); external relations; health policy and analytics; public health; and the state hospital.
At the Health Policy Board meeting yesterday, Saxton said she’s also been meeting with the 16 Coordinated Care Organizations. “working on the rate issue” for 2016.
Despite OHA’s announcement earlier this month that it would lay off 31 people in its restructuring, Saxton said OHA will hire new applicants “to support our transformation” – including a Medicaid director.
“We need a single point of access for CCOs,” she said.
Saxton also noted that staff are preparing a map of behavioral health services in Oregon, including mental health and addiction services, to inform policymaking with data, best practices and service gaps.
This week, Saxton got a hands-on demonstration of a new computer healthcare signup system to replace the notoriously
expensive and difficult one created by Oracle (due to sunset in December).
Deloitte Consulting, which created a successful computer sign-up program for the state of Kentucky, is working on the project.
“The young man on the Kentucky project actually lives in Oregon,” said Saxton. “We’re making sure we’re on track for September to make sure it works and will evolve.”
Kendra Hogue is a Portland-based freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
