July 2016

This is a regular update for people who care about health policy issues in Oregon. We welcome your input, feedback and questions.

A plan to modernize Oregon's public health system
From Cascadia earthquake preparedness to Zika containment, public health plays a critical role in protecting Oregon’s communities. However, a new statewide assessment (mandated by House Bill 3100) found gaps between Oregon’s current public health system and one that provides access to fully modernized health protection, prevention and promotion services in every part of the state. According to the report.

• Many Oregonians lack basic public health services. Foundational public health programs are limited or minimal in more than one-third of Oregon communities.
  
  
• Oregon lags behind surrounding states in public health investment. All neighboring states invest more per capita on public health than Oregon. For example, Idaho spends ($94.70) three times more per capita on public health than Oregon ($26.60). Click here to view the graph.

First step to increase Oregon’s public health investment: After reviewing the findings, the Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) recommended an initial investment of $30 million for the 2017-2019 biennium, as a first step toward ensuring every community has access to basic public health capabilities. Top priorities: The PHAB identified communicable disease prevention, reducing environmental health risks, emergency preparedness and other essential services as immediate priorities for investment. For more information, visit healthoregon.org/modernization.

Strengthening behavioral health in Oregon

This month OHA Director Lynne Saxton convened the Behavioral Health Collaborative, a diverse group of stakeholders that is charting a course to improve outcomes for consumers and provide more effective, equitable and consumer-friendly services in Oregon. The collaborative is made up of 45 consumers, clinicians, hospital representatives, county officials, community mental health providers, judges, public safety officials and others with expertise and experience in addressing mental health issues in Oregon.

The collaborative will meet twice a month through the fall and develop an action plan for the 2017 Legislature. New insights into county services: The action plan will be informed by new data that offers an unprecedented look at Oregon’s behavioral health system. Recently, we released County Behavioral Health Profiles data (posted here for all 36 counties in Oregon). Each profile contains data about county services, penetration rate and funding, along with prevalence and demographic data. Oregon’s performance plan with USDOJ adds urgency to behavioral health reforms: This week OHA finalized a performance plan with the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) to expand services and improve outcomes for people in Oregon who have serious and persistent mental illness.

The three-year plan holds the state, providers, counties and coordinated care organizations accountable for meeting robust performance metrics. To meet the targets, Oregon will have to make significant changes in how the state delivers and invests in mental health services.

• Increase access to community services: Speed the way adults with severe and persistentmental illness are transitioned to community-based treatment.

• Reduce use of institutionalized and restrictive settings: Increase access to crisis services and community-based supports. Avoid incarceration or unnecessary hospitalization.

• Expand support services: Increase access to supportive housing and peer support services.

See all of the Oregon County Behavioral Health Profiles here.

Measuring health care transformation Late last month, OHA released the fourth annual CCO performance report. Today more than 1 million people are served by the Oregon Health Plan – more than 9 out of 10 receive care through a coordinated care organization (CCO). The latest data show:

• CCOs across the state are providing higher quality care: For example, adults readmitted within 30 days after being discharged from a hospital has improved 33 percent since 2011.

• More OHP members are getting access to better preventive care: Since 2011, diabetes-related hospital stays have decreased 29 percent. Admissions for chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, COPD and asthma also are down from the 2011 baseline.

• Member satisfaction is up: The percent of CCO members who were satisfied with the customer service they received has increased almost 10 percent since 2011 baseline.

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