March 7, 2012 – A healthcare co-op that CareOregon hopes to launch is still awaiting word from the federal government about start-up funds. Incorporated as Community Care of Oregon and now referred to as Oregon's Health Co-op in some documents, the co-op is intended to become a consumer-owned and operated insurance company.
Recently CareOregon hired a Portland consulting firm to search for its CEO, and posted an advertisement on the nonprofit jobs site Mac's List.
“It's a challenging search,” said Jim Morris, a senior consultant with Decisions Decisions, which is conducting the search and works with nonprofit organizations on strategy and board development.
“This is a unique opportunity,” he added, noting that the co-op lacks a staff, office and a product. “Someone's going to need to be able to work with a broad coalition of folks to create a product.”
Morris is eager to hear from the community about the new endeavor. “This is probably one of the most critical organizations being formed,” he said. “It's an opportunity to rethink the way healthcare is delivered.”
CareOregon is paying for the consulting costs, said Cory Streisinger, who chairs the co-op’s board, and also handled the legal fees to start the organization.
While the health co-op awaits word from the federal government, The Freelancers Co-op of Oregon has received $59,487,500 in start-up funds to start a nonprofit insurance company.
The New York-based Freelancers Union will administer the plan and also received funds to start similar healthcare plans in New Jersey ($107,213,300) and New York ($174,445,000).
The Freelancers Co-op of Oregon is expected to provide health insurance to 35,000 people within three years, and the Freelancers Union currently provides insurance to 23,000 members and their families in New York through the Freelancers Insurance Company (which it owns), and is one of the first organizations to receive funding..
The Affordable Care Act included a provision for consumer-owned and operated health care plans and set aside $6 billion to be disbursed in low-interest loans to assist with startup costs.
Image for this photo appears courtesy of Flickr user rick020200 under a Creative Commons attribution license.
