Approximately 90 percent of Oregon Medicaid members are enrolled in one of the state's Coordinated Care Organizations, and through the use of those organizations, the state has been able to contain cost growth and hold down emergency department use by Medicaid members, according to a Portland Business Journal report.
There are 16 CCOs operating across Oregon, and even with about 380,000 new Medicaid enrollees in 2014, the organizations are helping to transform the state's Medicaid program.
A report from the Oregon Health Authority's Office of Health Analytics revealed ED visits among Medicaid enrollees in the state have decreased 21 percent since 2011. In addition, the report showed per member, per month costs fell from $87.45 in 2011 to $82.31 in June 2014.
Lori Coyner, director of quality and accountability for the Oregon Health Authority, told Portland Business Journal, "We are very pleased we're continuing to hold down costs."
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