PacificSource Community Solutions Columbia Gorge Receives $2.8 Million for Earning High State Quality Scores
Coordinated Care Organization will allocate the funds back to care providers
(HOOD RIVER, Ore.) July 12, 2018— The PacificSource Columbia Gorge Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) announced that it will receive more than $2.8 million dollars from Quality Pool payments from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for quality performance during 2017. PacificSource Community Solutions will allocate the money received from OHA back to the care providers for the Columbia Gorge CCO, as well as create funds over which the Columbia Gorge Health Council has decision-making authority. The pool of funds will be used for initiatives throughout the Columbia Gorge, strategically aimed at improving the health of the community.
The Columbia Gorge CCO met performance targets on 15 of 17 quality measures. Quality measures are used by the OHA to determine how successful CCOs have been at improving care and making quality care accessible.
Performance on clinical measures in the Columbia Gorge CCO was the highest in the state in two areas: follow up care for people who have been hospitalized for mental health conditions and satisfaction with customer service from the health insurer.
Together, PacificSource Community Solutions and the Columbia Gorge Health Council lead the PacificSource Columbia Gorge CCO, which includes nearly every healthcare provider in Hood River and Wasco Counties, serving nearly 12,000 members of Oregon’s Medicaid program, known as the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Medicaid, which is government-funded health insurance for low income individuals and families, currently covers one in four residents in the two counties.
“These measures are aimed at improving physical, mental, and dental health and we are meeting goals that have raised expectations in those areas,” said Elke Towey, PacificSource’s practice coach in the region. “What really stands out about this accomplishment is the engagement, collaboration, and hard work of the health care providers and staff in our CCO. And while the measures themselves are focused on our Gorge Medicaid population, the work that’s being done ultimately benefits all patients as these measures become quality practice standards for everyone.”
The OHA has published a 2017 Performance Report that includes all of Oregon’s CCOs. It can be found online at Oregon.gov/oha.
About the Columbia Gorge Health Council
The Columbia Gorge Health Council consists of healthcare, county, and other community leaders in Hood River and Wasco Counties who work together to recommend and guide solutions and improvements to the region’s healthcare system. They work in partnership with PacificSource Community Solutions to guide the area’s Coordinated Care Organization as well as develop strategies and policies to address the needs of the poor and vulnerable in the region.
About PacificSource Health Plans
PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource is based in Springfield, Oregon, with local offices throughout Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The PacificSource family of companies employs 1000 people, serves more than 300,000 individuals, and has 3,900 employer clients throughout the Northwest. For more information visit PacificSource.com.