Oregon Health Plan
What Does Oregon Health Plan Mean?
The Oregon Health Plan is Oregon’s version of Medicaid. First enacted into law on March 20, 1993, under President Bill Clinton, it was originally conceived by John Kitzhaber, an emergency doctor who later became the governor of Oregon. The plan is designed to provide healthcare coverage for the state’s low-income residents.
Insuranceopedia Explains Oregon Health Plan
The Oregon Health Plan operates using the coordinated care model, which brings together a team of health professionals from various fields—such as physical, mental, and dental health—to focus on the overall well-being of the patient. This coordinated approach not only results in better health assessments but also lowers costs compared to seeking services from separate medical units for tests and evaluations.
While the primary goal of coordinated care is disease prevention, the Oregon Health Plan also covers disease treatment.
As of 2016, more than 90% of Oregonians, including both adults and children, are insured under this plan. However, budget deficits have posed challenges to the program and could hinder its planned expansion.
