In reflecting on the close of 2024, we feel proud of the tremendous work ORPRN’s health policy team achieved to move policy implementation forward in Oregon, and gratitude for our network of passionate and committed partners supporting and working alongside us.
Notably, we'd like to acknowledge and celebrate nine years of collaboration with Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO) in designing, implementing and refining their growing community reinvestment program. In its first year, EOCCO strategically invested $1.5 million Oregon Health Authority Quality Incentive dollars to 23 clinical partners across Eastern Oregon. Fast forward to 2024, the program reinvested $5 million from several funding streams to roughly 50 clinical and community partners addressing health-related social needs (HRSN). We’re honored to have supported links across sectors and developed lessons learned and best practices that have informed how other Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) across the state reinvest back into their communities. Thank you to EOCCO for nine years of partnership, innovation and community-engaged learning!
Our team’s Director of Health Policy Nancy Goff recently attended RISE Health and Aligning for Health’s Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Policy Forum in Washington D.C., which explored the current state of SDOH policy and future opportunities to support stronger, healthier communities. Despite pervasive uncertainty about the national Medicaid landscape, many states are continuing to advance concrete programs and policies that will sustainably, comprehensively address HRSN and the SDOH. These pieces, such as HRSN benefits through an 1115 waiver, in lieu of services, billing models for community health workers and statewide community information exchange platforms, are already underway in Oregon, with most of them being supported by ORPRN’s health policy team! National leaders at the forum also predicted continued, widespread support for health systems improvement efforts that save costs, such as quality measures and value-based payment, integrated medical and social services, and collaborative cross-sector relationships to sustain “whole-person” care efforts.
It is validating to hear that Oregon is on the right track and leading the way in building out systems to ensure that Oregonians have access to the health and social services that they need. We’re grateful for our diverse partnerships and the ability to create and connect across sectors to support health systems and policy change. Amid changes at the national level, we are committed to improving health and equity for all Oregonians!
— ORPRN Health Policy Team, January 2025