Oregon has implemented a statewide accountable care model with the 2012 launch of Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs). CCOs are partnerships of payers, providers, and community organizations that work at the community level to provide coordinated health care for children and adult Oregon Health Plan Enrollees. CCOs build on pre-existing initiatives in the state including the Patient-Centered Primary Care Home (PCPCH) Program created in 2009 to enhance primary care across the state by encouraging practices to adopt the medical home model.

A PCPCH Pediatric Standards Advisory Committee was involved in the creation of the program to ensure the use of appropriate measures for children. Participating practices are required to uphold medical home standards related to areas such as access to care, accountability, and coordination and integration. Oregon also has an approved state plan amendment to implement Health Homes that build on the PCPCH program and provide services to Medicaid enrollees with chronic conditions.

Currently, there are 6,618 primary care practitioners participating in CCOs. Of those, 3,823 (58%) are pediatric clinicians. Over 400,000 clients under the age of 19 have had an encounter with a CCO during 2013.

Sixteen CCOs operate across Oregon and each is provided with a fixed global budget from the state. This financing strategy gives CCOs the flexibility to create alternative payment methodologies for providers and to explore innovative strategies to support transformation based on the needs within their specific communities. CCOs are required to implement the requirements for the Patient-Centered Primary Care Home program as much as possible, and, in addition to providing physical health care, CCOs also deliver mental health, alcohol/substance abuse, and dental care services. Furthermore, CCOs are expected to coordinate with their local Early Learning Hub, newly launched community entities charged with supporting efforts for education and early childhood development.

Oregon received a State Innovation Model (SIM) testing grant from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation in 2013. A key focus of the SIM grant, is to support the improvement and spread of the payment model used by CCOs to other payers beyond Medicaid and to create a Transformation Center to support the improvement and testing of the CCOs. The Center provides technical assistance and offers CCOs the opportunity to participate in learning collaboratives focusing on a variety of issues such as CCO incentive measures and complex care initiatives.

Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) receive a fixed global budget from the state and are eligible for additional incentive payments by meeting certain performance metrics. CCOs are currently required to report on 17 incentive measures including developmental screening, follow-up care for children prescribed ADHD medications, and adolescent well-care visits. Oregon is exploring the idea of adding an additional pediatric metric for kindergarten readiness as a shared metric with the Early Learning Hubs. In addition to the global budget, Oregon legislature made an additional $27 million investment in CCOs in 2013 to jumpstart transformation efforts.  This Transformation Fund supports CCOs’ abilities to innovate and specifically develop projects that improve health outcomes for target populations, enhance the Patient-Centered Primary Care Home, and invest in health information technology.

CCOs are required to compensate providers with alternative payment methodologies that encourage improved quality of care and health outcomes. Some of the payment methodologies used are shared savings payments, bundled payments, payments based on episodes of care, and payments based on a global budgeting system.

Early Quarterly Progress Reports on Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) Incentive and State Performance Measures released by The Oregon Health Authority, indicate positive high-level findings for CCOs including decreased emergency department utilization, decreased hospitalization for chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, increased primary care visits, and increased utilization of electronic health records by providers. The most recent quarterly report, released in February 2014, also shows an increase in the percentage of children receiving a developmental screening.

• National Academy for State Health Policy Oregon PCPCH Page
• National Academy for State Health Policy Oregon Coordinated Care Organizations Page
• Oregon Coordinated Care Organization Page
• Oregon Patient-Centered Primary Care Home Page
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid State Innovation Models Testing Page

To connect with a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO), pediatric clinicians should start by identifying which CCO covers the geographic area in which they practice. Once the geographic area is identified, clinicians can reach to the governing board of the CCO.

Each CCO is required to have a Clinical Advisory Committee made up of medical providers to advise the CCO board on policy. Pediatric clinicians looking to become engaged in CCOs can contribute to these advisory committees and participate in public forums.

• 521, 785: The number of children ever enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Oregon in FY 2012 (399,823 Medicaid; 121,962 CHIP)
• 87.6%: The participation rate for children eligible for the Oregon Medicaid/CHIP program
• 87.2%: The national participation rate for children eligible for the Medicaid/CHIP program