Healthcare, Part 1 with former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber

This week’s topic is Healthcare, Part 1 with former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. Dr. Kitzhaber is well known in Oregon and across the country for his expertise on health care and health policy. He has practiced as an emergency physician, served for 14 years in the Oregon legislature, and completed three terms as governor of Oregon. Through his service, he authored the Oregon Health Plan and was the chief architect of the state’s Coordinated Care Organizations.

The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) provides health care coverage for low-income Oregonians from all walks of life. This includes working families, children, pregnant women, single adults, seniors, and more.

A Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) is a network of all types of health care providers who are working together in their local communities to serve people who receive health care coverage under the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). CCOs integrate physical, mental, and dental care with the goal of better health, better care, and lower costs. CCOs focus on prevention of illness and disease and improving care. This helps reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and gives people support to be healthy.

Everyone in this rich nation of ours should have timely access to the medical care they need when they need it. The problem in DC, I think, is that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are assuming any change in the healthcare business model in how healthcare is organized and delivered. We either pay for it, or we don’t. ~ John Kitzhaber