HB 4136 Partners And Representative Nancy Nathanson To Host "Future Of Healthcare Innovation In Lane County" Public Forum -11/13/24
On November 18 from 5:30-6:30 pm, state legislators from Lane County will join health care “Innovation Grant” recipients for a public forum at Harris Hall, 125 E. 8th Ave. Eugene-Springfield Fire, BestMed Urgent Care, Cascade Medical Associates, PeaceHealth, Lane County, and WhiteBird will showcase strategies designed to improve access to same-day health care while decreasing the overall same-day health care system costs in the greater Eugene area. The showcase will include presentations on each strategy followed by a conversation regarding the future of healthcare innovation in Lane County.
“This event is designed to be an opportunity for our community to come together and hear directly from those organizations working to improve access to these vital services in Lane County,” said Representative Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene. “We want to provide clarity and transparency on the progress that House Bill 4136 sought to achieve, and how it will benefit overall health and wellbeing of Lane County.”
Introduced by legislators from the local area in the ’24 session, House Bill 4136 contains three main parts that aim to increase overall access to same-day healthcare in Lane County. The bill included:
• $1.3 million to fund an additional Eugene-Springfield Fire ambulance crew.
• Allows for out-of-state nurses to start working while their application and credentials are being reviewed for Oregonlicensure.
• A $3.2 million "innovation fund" that will pay for pilot programs designed to increase access to urgent and say-day care, and to reduce ambulance and emergency room usage in Lane County.
Seven responses were submitted ahead of the deadline on June 10, 2024 for the innovation fund. These proposals were reviewed and scored by a committee of local stakeholders. Five vendors were awarded full or partial funding, including Lane County, PeaceHealth/City of Eugene, WhiteBird, BestMed, and Cascade Medical Associates. A summary of proposals can be found below:
OrganizationSummary of Services
| City of Eugene & PeaceHealth | Responding to lower acuity 9-1-1 calls with a single EMT responder, relieving other Fire/EMS units to respond to higher acuity calls. EMT responder will assess patient requirements on scene and utilize tele-health or facilitate transport to the PeaceHealth University District (UD) Urgent Care (UC), alleviating need to transport to the Emergency Dept. at a local hospital. Service will be provided from Eugene Fire Station 1 (13th & Willamette) to a 3 mile radius from PeaceHealth UD UC. Service hours will be 10am-8pm 7 days a week. |
| White Bird Clinic | Increasing capacity of their Mobile Crisis Services in order to take direct receival of patients identified in the field as not requiring immediate medical attention. White Bird will offer crisis intervention and in-house (medical, metal health, dental) and external service referral to patients. Starting 10/1/24 this service will be offered 24/7. |
| Lane County | Deliver mobile health services at local shelters which see high volumes of ambulance transport. This will include a health care provider and community outreach workers. Services will include primary/preventative care, community referrals and health education. Providing transportation options for patients to the W11th Rapid Access Community Health Center when care cannot be completed by the Mobile team. |
| Cascade Medical Associates | Provide increased availability of tele-health services particularly during hours of high ED usage, including Medicaid patients. Obtaining secure tablets/devices for patients to access tele-health services at other locations with partner organizations. |
| BestMed | Extending hours of service at Coburg Rd Urgent Care, adding 1 extra shift, and increasing staffing. New hours of operation will be 8am-10pm 7 days a week. |
The public meeting is open to all community members, including members of the media. Free parking will be available in the Lane County employee lot located on Pearl St between E. 7th and E. 8th avenues. For special accommodation requests, please email Jason Davis at Jason.davis@lanecountyor.gov.