February 21, 2013 — Governor Kitzhaber today received notice that Oregon’s health system transformation has been accepted as a model to be used in others states. To that end, Oregon was awarded up to $45 million in a State Innovation Model grant by the federal Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. The grant is designed to support states taking innovative approaches to improving health and lowering costs across the health care system, including Medicaid, Medicare, and the private sector. Oregon was one of six states to receive the grant.
“This grant is another recognition that when it comes to tackling the large challenges before us – including a fragmented and expensive health care system – Oregon can create a path for the nation to follow,” said Governor Kitzhaber.
Oregon Health Authority will administer the grant, which will support the state’s ongoing health system transformation and require Oregon to share what it learns with other states. Oregon’s health reform to its Medicaid program started with the creation of coordinated care organizations last year.
Specifically, the grant will allow Oregon to strengthen, support and expand the coordinated care model for Medicaid and other payers.
Oregon’s grant focuses on creating, evaluating and reporting on innovative health models to:
- Integrate and coordinate care among primary, specialty, mental and behavioral health, and oral health providers
- Reduce health disparities
- Engage patients and consumers in their own care for better outcomes
- Engage providers in health system transformation
- Improve community health through local partnerships that support promotion and prevention activities
- Implement more effective health care payment models that incent better health from, rather than the volume of, services provided
- Share information, innovation, and best practices across Oregon’s health care sector to reduce health disparities
“The support allows Oregon to move more quickly toward a health care system of better health, better care, and lower costs for everyone,” said Bruce Goldberg, M.D., director of the Oregon Health Authority.
Governor Kitzhaber travels this weekend to the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, where he will highlight Oregon's health care transformation model.
