Oregon's coordinated care organizations, similar to accountable care organizations but for Medicaid beneficiaries, have been successful at keeping patients out of emergency departments, according to a quarterly report released this month.
The CCO program officially went live in September 2012. The program, a Medicaid demonstration program, aims to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for Medicaid beneficiaries through the integration of health services, reduction of administrative overhead and improvement of patient-centered care.
In addition to decreasing ED visits, COOs have made other inroads as well. For example, the organizations have reduced hospital admissions for congestive heart failure by 29 percent, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 28 percent and adult asthma by 14 percent compared to 2011.
Outpatient primary care visits for COO members are up 18 percent compared to 2011.
There are currently 15 CCOs in Oregon that cover roughly 90 percent of Oregon Health Plan members.
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