FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2018

Oregon Health Plan members satisfied with OHP and coordinated care organizations, support proposals to improve CCOs

Portland, Ore. -- Members of the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) are highly satisfied with the care they receive and trust the state’s Medicaid program for information about their health, according to a new survey conducted by the public opinion research firm DHM Research.

Members also expressed strong support for policy changes the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is considering when it issues new contracts for coordinated care organizations (CCOs) in 2020. These proposals are referred to as "CCO 2.0."

However, proposals that could limit the number of providers who see OHP members were less popular.

The survey was based on telephone interviews with 401 OHP members that were conducted Aug. 22-27. Interviewers spoke to OHP members whose primary languages were English, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 4.9 percent.

According to the DHM survey results:

• Satisfaction with OHP: 90 percent of Oregon Health Plan members were satisfied with OHP and the care they receive through the plan. (Sixty-three percent were very satisfied.)
• Satisfaction with CCOs: 78 percent of OHP members who were familiar with coordinated care organizations were satisfied with CCOs. (Fifty-five percent were very satisfied.) However, 35 percent of OHP members were unfamiliar with CCOs.
• Ways to improve care: When asked what they would change, one-third of OHP members would not change OHP. However, for those who offered responses, the top changes were: expand coverage (23 percent), reduce wait times for care and customer service (12 percent) and improve access to and choice of providers (10 percent).

OHP members showed support for the major proposals to change CCO contracts:

• Improve access to behavioral health services: 76 percent of OHP members supported proposals that would do "more to get doctors and other providers to work together to help members who need mental health care and addiction services," even if these proposals could "be expensive and the changes may take a long time to improve care." Only 16 percent opposed.
• Address social factors that affect health: 83 percent of OHP members supported proposals to "help members with other parts of their life, like housing, food, and other services, because having a home, food, and transportation helps people be healthy." Twelve percent opposed.
• Contain costs: 50 percent of OHP members supported the proposal to "Find ways to save money on health care. This could ensure OHP members continue to have health coverage and benefits, but it may mean providers get paid less, and some OHP members have fewer providers to choose from." Thirty-four percent opposed.
• Pay providers to improve member health: 48 percent supported proposals to "pay providers based on how well your doctors take care of you, instead of how many times you visit them," even if that may mean "there will be fewer providers for OHP members to choose from." Forty-two percent opposed this idea.
• Transparency and representation: 63 percent of OHP members agreed "having more members help make decisions about OHP would improve your health care experience."

Oregon’s 15 coordinated care organizations are privately operated, locally governed entities responsible for managing physical, behavioral, and oral health care for their members. Since CCOs were established in 2012, they have slowed the growth of Medicaid costs, reduced the use of low-value care and improved a variety of health and quality measures, according to independent researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.

"We wanted to know what OHP members had to say about the future of CCOs because the changes we’re considering affect OHP members more than anyone else," said Patrick Allen, Director of the Oregon Health Authority. "I’m glad members expressed such strong levels for trust in OHP, satisfaction in their CCOs and support for the direction we’re going in to accelerate health transformation in our state."

The survey found few significant differences of opinion among respondents based on language, region or other demographic factors such as gender, age, race or ethnicity.

DHM researchers presented the findings to the Oregon Health Policy Board earlier today. The board heard a presentation of draft recommendations for the CCO 2.0 contracts and will approve final changes at its meeting October 15. The CCO 2.0 contracts will cover the years 2020-2025. They represent the largest procurement in state history.

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CCO 2.0 webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPB/Pages/CCO-2-0.aspx

OHSU CCO study: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/ANALYTICS/Evaluation%20docs/Summative%20Medicaid%20Waiver%20Evaluation%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf

Oregon Health Policy Board meetings webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OHPB/Pages/OHPB-Meetings.aspx

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