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OHA Lifts Blue-green Algae Health Advisory on South Tenmile Lake

6/16/2017

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June 16, 2017

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139,
PHD.Communications@state.or.us


Health advisory lifted June 16 for South Tenmile Lake
Blue-green algae toxins not found in water sample

The Oregon Health Authority has lifted the health advisory issued June 12 for South Tenmile Lake, located 10 miles north of North Bend in Coos County.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of blue-green algae toxins are below guideline values for human exposure, and that the water does not present a problem for pets.

Oregon health officials advise recreational visitors to always be alert to signs of algae blooms in all Oregon waters, because only a fraction of the many lakes and waterways in Oregon are monitored for blue-green algae by state and federal agencies. People and their pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red in color, if a thick mat of blue-green algae is visible in the water, or bright green cells are suspended in the water column. If you observe these signs in the water you are encouraged to avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities.

For health information, to report human or pet illnesses due to blooms, or to ask questions about a news release, contact the Oregon Health Authority at 971-673-0400. For information about advisories issued or lifted for the season, contact the Oregon Public Health toll-free information line at 1-877-290-6767 or visit the Harmful Algae Blooms website at http://healthoregon.org/hab and select “Algae Bloom Advisories.”

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OHA releases 2017 rates for Oregon’s coordinated care organizations

10/13/2016

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October 11, 2016

Contact: Courtney Warner Crowell, 971-712-6503, courtney.w.crowell@state.or.us

OHA releases 2017 rates for Oregon’s coordinated care organizations
 
Today the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the 2017 capitation rates for Oregon’s coordinated care organizations (CCOs). The CCOs contract with the state of Oregon to manage and deliver health care to Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), the state’s Medicaid insurance program. OHA pays these capitation rates to CCOs on a monthly basis to cover OHP members for physical, behavioral and oral health services.
 
“Oregon has made a commitment to Oregonians and the federal government to keep Medicaid costs under the national average, and to a yearly growth rate of 3.4 percent,” said Lynne Saxton, Director of the Oregon Health Authority. “The costs of Medicaid are borne by state and federal taxpayers and the CCO rates released today will help us keep that commitment, and most importantly provide the best health care possible to Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan.”
 
OHA contracts with Optumas, an actuarial consulting firm, to assist in the rate development. The 2017 capitation rates that were released today to the CCOs and to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have been certified by Optumas as actuarially sound. The rates take into account several factors, including differences in regional costs, population disease risk and hospital reimbursement.
 
The rates released today show that Oregon is on track to meet its cost containment rate of 3.4 percent, with an aggregate 2017 rate increase of 3.2 percent. Oregon has pledged to keep cost growth to 3.4 percent through 2017 based on a commitment to our federal partner CMS, and as part of Oregon’s current Medicaid waiver.
 
While the rates show that Oregon is on track for this year, the rates also provide insight into future challenges, one of which is pharmacy costs. With prices for many pharmaceuticals increasing, OHA is looking at solutions to keep pharmacy costs in check including collaboration with CCOs to align and negotiate for better prices for high-cost drugs.
 
A full list of Oregon’s 2017 CCO capitation rates are attached. Due to differences in population, the methodology matches payments to risk and mitigates the potential subsidizing between CCOs that would occur if each CCO received the same increase.


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OHA News Release July 27: New report shows financial health of Oregon hospitals

7/28/2016

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EDITORS: Report researchers Stacey Schubert and Steve Ranzoni will be available to answer questions about the report between 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27. Call Tony Andersen at 971-239-6483 to arrange an interview time. 
July 27, 2016
 
Media contact: Tony Andersen, 971-239-6483, phd.communications@state.or.us

New report shows financial health of Oregon hospitals has improved as more people have gained health insurance coverage
Salem, Oregon––A new report issued by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) finds that as more people in Oregon have become insured, the financial standing of most hospitals has improved. Across Oregon’s hospitals, operating margins have increased, while uncompensated care decreased.

The Highlights report––issued for the first time this year––also finds that hospital revenue has increased under the Affordable Care Act.

Each year OHA is required to collect financial data from acute care hospitals under ORS 442.400-442.463, providing an annual snapshot of the healthcare needs of Oregon communities and assessing the fiscal health of hospitals under the ACA. The report, “Oregon Acute Care Hospitals: Annual Financials Reporting Highlights,” aims to provide a transparent source of healthcare information and inform policy conversations. “This data shows us that the new healthcare environment is providing more people access to affordable care while improving the financial stability of hospitals in Oregon,” said Lynne Saxton, director of the OHA. “Hospitals are a critical part of our healthcare delivery system, and their financial viability ensures that essential community services are delivered effectively and efficiently. This report provides patients and policymakers an accessible and transparent vantage point for exploring future opportunities.”

Major changes to Oregon’s healthcare system in 2014 impacted charity care services provided by Oregon hospitals. As the ACA increased access to health care coverage through expanded Medicaid eligibility and the health insurance exchange, the proportion of uninsured individuals in Oregon fell sharply from 14.5 percent to 5.3 percent (Oregon Health Insurance Survey, 2013 and 2015). This significantly reduced the need for financial assistance and charity care as more people became insured and the cost of services provided to them were recouped by hospitals.

According to the data provided in the report between 2014 and 2015:
  • Uncompensated care––a combination of charity care and bad debt––dropped by $342 million, or 38.4 percent.
  • Net hospital income in Oregon increased $367 million, or 53.8 percent.
  • Oregon hospitals’ operating margins increased nearly 35%. Operating margins indicate whether a hospital is operating at a profit or loss.
  • Overall, rural hospitals experienced more fluctuation in income and operated with tighter margins from 2010-2015, however, all hospital types had greater net income in 2015.
The report is available as a PDF file and as a data file on the OHA Health Analytics website at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/analytics/Pages/index.aspx, linked to as “Hospital Financial Report.”

Media availability
Report researchers Stacey Schubert and Steve Ranzoni will be available to answer questions about the report between 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27. Call Tony Andersen at 971-239-6483 to arrange an interview time.
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