Terry Coplin steps down as CEO of Trillium Community Health Plan and its holding company, Agate Health Care next July, and Witt/Kieffer, a national executive recruiting company based in Oak Brook, Il., is already on the lookout for his successor. That person will be chosen by early January, and begin taking over in March or April.
Coplin, who turns 65 in July, felt this was the appropriate time to retire, but says he has a certain ambivalence about giving up his role, having joined Trillium in 1999 when it was still known as LIPA, a physician-run organization based in Eugene.
Once he retires, Coplin prefers to transition into something “not as intense and full time that I’m doing right now, but I don’t have any specific plans yet and have plenty of time to work this out. But I have to admit I’m starting to get used to the idea of being retired,”
Under Coplin’s leadership, Trillium has undergone massive transformation, and now has slightly over 91,000 members –primarily people on the Oregon Health Plan – along with people who are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
Trillium also has the distinction of being among two coordinated care organizations chosen by the Public Employees Benefit Board, along with Moda Health and Providence Health Plan for enrollment by state employees in 2015. Together with dependents, there are 15,000 potential members in Lane County.
But Coplin realizes competition will be stiff for 2015 because Providence offers the lowest-price plan, which is $2 cheaper than Trillium.
“If PEBB members chose a cheaper option, they get a significant discount on the premiums they pay,” he said. “But the door is open, and we have three years to build this product.”
Coplin is also putting final touches on the non-emergent medical transportation contract with Lane Transit District, and is hard at work on meeting the quality standards for the Oregon Health Plan population so that his providers can reap the benefits of the full bonus amount in 2015 -- $12 million – which is based on total enrollment numbers. This year, Trillium received $5 million, which was distributed to its providers.
Meeting the needs of the expansion population – with 27,000 newcomers joining the plan in early 2014 – has been a challenge since Coplin expected to have a two-year enrollment window. “And we got them in the first three months which saturated primary care in this community.”
By the end of October, everyone should have a primary care medical home, with Trillium boosting its primary care access by offering financial incentives. In the coming months, Coplin expects another 10,000 people are still waiting to join the Oregon Health Plan.
Taking a look back at his accomplishments, Coplin’s most proud of his collaboration with the
community and has built a strong relationship with Lane County that’s helped Trillium deal with primary care access problems and the integration of behavioral health.
Peace Health has also been a great partner, said Coplin, who’s also engaged with state officials to bring on adult residential services.
“But,” Coplin warned, “this has to be done with great care because it’s a very brittle population.”
Another target is reducing smoking among pregnant women – 37% smoke – which is not only characteristic of Trillium’s population but the Oregon Health Plan in general, he said.
Diane can be reached at [email protected].
