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Proceeds of the settlement will be donated to the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Lebanon, OR
Attorneys representing FamilyCare, Inc., the Oregon Health Authority, and former Oregon Health Authority Director Lynne Saxton announced the settlement of a federal lawsuit that had been scheduled to begin trial next month. Under the terms of the agreement, the parties agreed to release all claims and dismiss the case.
By mutual agreement of the parties, the Oregon Health Authority will pay $22.5 million to FamilyCare over the next 4 years. FamilyCare will donate the proceeds to support the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific - Northwest in Lebanon, Oregon. In addition, the College will separately receive funds from the Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care, which has provided longstanding support to the school.
FamilyCare CEO Jeff Heatherington said, “We believe that this is a reasonable resolution to a complex dispute and greatly improves Oregonians’ access to health care and helps train future generations of Oregon primary care physicians.”
Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said, “I am glad we could resolve these proceedings with an agreement that invests in the future of Oregon’s health care work force and strengthens our health care system.”
FamilyCare, Inc., a non-profit formed in 1984, operated a coordinated care organization that served approximately 120,000 Oregon Health Plan members in the Tri-county area and served Oregon’s Medicaid beneficiaries for 33 years. FamilyCare sued the Oregon Health Authority and former Director Saxton in federal court. The case had been proceeding to a trial scheduled to begin April 25, 2022 under Judge Michael Mosman.
No party admits any liability based on the settlement.
What: The Oregon Health Authority will hold a virtual public hearing on the impact of health care costs on Oregonians on Friday, April 8 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
This meeting will highlight data on high and rising health care costs along with testimony from consumers and employers about health care affordability challenges. Panels will discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on health care costs and health plans, provider organizations, and policymakers will share efforts to address health care costs and meet the statewide health care cost growth target.
Members of the public are invited to share personal stories about the high cost of health care. To do so in writing or as public comment during the meeting, please email us at HealthCare.CostTarget@dhsoha.state.or.us. Public comment will be heard at 12:40 PM.
Where: This is a virtual meeting only. You can join remotely via Zoom or phone.
Zoom: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1608134195?pwd=djJpMWVQRTNKZVcrUnB5MU16VkpHdz09 Meeting ID: 160 813 4195 | Passcode: 884645
Phone: One tap mobile: +16692545252,,1608134195#,,,,*884645#
Agenda: The agenda is available here.
The OHA COVID-19 Response & Recovery Unit and OHA Transformation Center are hosting a new pediatric COVID-19 vaccine learning series focused on the six-month to four-year-old populations. See below for a schedule detailing the first three sessions in the learning series:
Preparing for the 6-month to 4-year-old COVID-19 vaccine. Tapping in: Reminders, recerts and ramping up! Register here.
- March 31, noon to 1 p.m.
- This session will be dedicated to bringing resources to the front for providers to re-center as we approach the next vaccine event.
- Oregon Immunization Program updates
- Acknowledging LPHA feedback
- Monday peer support space
- Acknowledging community feedback
Community feedback: Preparing for the six-month to four-year old COVID-19 vaccine. Register here.
- April 7, noon to 1 p.m.
- This session will focus on the community feedback tool to pull commentary on how to uplift vaccine hesitant individuals and marginalized communities.
Hesitance and mistrust: Vaccine hesitancy for the six-month to four-year-old populations. Register here.
- April 14, noon to 1 p.m.
- This session will empower providers with tools on how to best tackle hesitancy and inequity that leads to vaccine avoidant behaviors.
Health Systems Division is seeking members for a Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) for Chapter 309 Division 018, Residential Specialty Programs to discuss proposed rule changes.
April 21, 2022, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
- Zoom link
- Meeting call-in number: 1 (669) 254 - 5252 code: 866529
Description of proposed changes to OAR 309-019-0161:
- This rule creates qualifications for substance use disorder Residential Specialty Programs providing treatment to individuals recognized within a specialty populations under publicly funded services including Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan) and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant.
- Specialty Programs are reimbursed under Medicaid and Under the SAPT funding at a higher rate than non-Specialty Programs
For questions, please contact Dana.C.Peterson@dhsoha.state.or.us and Sarah.Adelhart@dhsoha.state.or.us.
Save the date! This webinar will focus on centering equity in CCO HRS flexible services, including opportunities to promote equity in selecting services, strategy and planning of service delivery, reaching members experiencing the greatest inequities, communicating with providers and members, and monitoring efforts. Yamhill Community Care Organization will also share an example of how, in response to the public health emergency, transportation to day-to-day essential services were offered to address the increased social needs of members.
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May 11, 2022, 11 a.m. to noon. | Register here
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Accessibility: Everyone has a right to know about and use OHA programs and services. Some examples of the services and accommodations OHA can provide: sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, braille, large print, audio and other formats. If you need help or have questions, please contact Nancy Goff via email at nancy055@gmail.com at least 48 hours before the meeting.
Weekly updates on major Medicaid projects
1115 Medicaid Waiver
No new updates this week. Please visit the 1115 Waiver Renewal webpage for links to the final application, an executive summary, a summary of changes from the draft to final application, a zip file of all public comments, summaries of public comments with OHA responses, and other information. The website is available in English and Spanish websites, and explanatory documents are available in 13 languages.
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Oregon Health Plan Redeterminations
No new updates this week.
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Healthier Oregon
Rules Advisory Committees are being held for proposed Medicaid changes regarding the inclusion of Healthier Oregon Program (HOP) Children and Adult benefits packages. RACs will be held over a series of days in April. Please see the RAC Notification for more information.
Rates as of 03/23/2022
 Please note: Rates by CCO are now based on members 5+ years old instead of 16+
  
March 28
10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Behavioral Health Committee
- Topics: Entering the Community; Metric concept discussion: Culturally Specific Services
March 29
1 to 3 p.m., Health Plan Quality Metrics Committee
March 30
1:05 to 2:30 p.m., Rules Advisory Committee
- Topics: OAR 410-141 Housekeeping Changes
March 31
1 to 3 p.m., Oregon CCO Metrics Technical Advisory Workgroup
- Topics: Discussions of measure requirements for the Social-Emotional Health and Health Equity measures. Zoom meeting.
Please visit the committee and workgroup links below for more information about meetings. You can also view the OHA Public Meeting calendar.
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