Oregon seeks federal approval of 'coordinated care plan,' approves exchange bill

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber is looking for federal approval of a recently signed law there that provides care for Medicaid patients through new "coordinated care organizations." The Oregon Legislature also approved a health insurance exchange bill before it adjourned.

The Associated Press: On Health Care, Ore. Picks Up Where Obama Left Off
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber last week signed a law that will create new regional entities, called coordinated care organizations, which will be able to spend money on programs like the one [Madeline] Hutchinson credits with turning around her life. Kitzhaber says the plan will improve care, reduce costs and serve as a model for the rest of the nation. But critics say that if the program works, more people will use health care benefits and costs will rise (Cooper, 3/6).

Modern Healthcare: Ore. Seeks Federal OK On Coordinated Care
Oregon is seeking federal approval to shift Medicaid beneficiaries into organizations that will coordinate patients' health care. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber signed into law a bill that would establish, with federal approval, "coordinated-care organizations" to manage medical care using medical homes, if possible, under a global Medicaid budget (Evans, 3/5).

(Portland) Oregonian:  Oregon Legislature Adjourns 2012 Session With Final Flurry Of Agreements
By overwhelming majorities, the Senate endorsed House Bill 4164, which would create a health insurance exchange intended to help individuals and small businesses find cheaper coverage, and House Bill 4165, which reorganizes and expands oversight of the state's early childhood programs. Both bills had become part of the end-of-session negotiations. Earlier, lawmakers approved [Gov. John] Kitzhaber's proposal to put Medicaid clients under coordinated care organizations, which include medical, mental and even dental care (Esteve, 3/5).