August 2019

(MEDFORD, OR 7/24/19). In partnership with six other community-based nonprofit organizations, Rogue Community Health (Rogue) launched a collaborative in 2016 known as the “Rogue Challenge.”   Its purpose was to help community members access resources and to reduce the complexity of varying eligibility requirements among multiple organizations.  Today, the Rogue Challenge has eight participating partners and proudly boasts that 82 percent of its referrals for member appointments are completed.

Rogue Challenge partners include the Eagle Point School District, YMCA of Medford, Grants Pass School District, Siskiyou Community Health Center, OnTrack Rogue Valley, Family Nurturing Center, Southern Oregon GoodWill, Southern Oregon Head Start and Rogue Community Health. Utilizing Lifespan software, the Rogue Challenge is leveraging technology in a closed-loop system known as the “Community Hub” to track member referrals among its partners to address both medical and social determinants needs.  While the Community Hub is still in its early stages of development, the participating organizations are already seeing benefits from adoption of the model.

In the Eagle Point School District, School Care Coordinator and Rogue Community Health employee, Nikki Day, is busy connecting students with resources. “I have about 50 students, and their families, identified to benefit from the Community Hub referral system,” said Day.  “And I am in the process of contacting parents/guardians of students in the Eagle Point School District to gain consent to assist and coordinate resources to support each individual, as needed.”

There are many barriers people face when accessing healthcare: geographic (where they live), transportation, cost, service and provider shortages.  Rural residents typically have a significant disadvantage to receiving healthcare services.  “It is important to bring awareness to families in the community so that they know support is available,” adds Day.  Once Day has a signed consent to help a student, she determines the resources that are needed and begins the referral process using Lifespan software.  One of the benefits of the closed-loop referral system is that it does not require follow-up because the Lifespan software allows for shared communication and notification that the referral has been received and that the initial appointment is complete.

“I want to be a safe person for students to talk with and to make sure they get the services they need,” states Day. “I have always wanted to work with youth; I feel the greatest impact can be made during these early years, and that is what really instills change.”

By creating a system where individuals, families and service providers all feel a greater sense of belonging, and people are better equipped to access the resources they need to thrive.

Click here for link to Mail Tribune news story.

Rogue Community Health (RCH) has signed a new value-based pay and risk sharing contract with CareOregon/Jackson Care Connect (JCC) in Jackson County. Value-based payment (VBP) is part of CCO 2.0 with a focus on aligning partners such as Rogue Community Health and Jackson Care Connect to improve patient experience, quality of care, and health outcomes.

RCH is a leader in implementing CCO 2.0, which represents the future of health care payment contracts for the next five years through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and its contracted coordinated care organizations. Rogue Community Health Chief Executive Officer, William North explains, “OHA has been very clear about healthcare transformation in the state of Oregon. By 2024, JCC and other CCOs are required to have 70% of their contracts for providers under value-based pay (VBP) arrangements. We are committed to healthcare transformation and with this agreement, RCH meets the VBP target for our JCC members and this supports JCC in achieving its target by 2024.”

Oregon Health Authority’s CCO 2.0 policy recommendations will tackle Oregon’s biggest health challenges:

1. Improve the behavioral health system;
2. Increase value and pay performance;
3. Focus on social determinants of health and health equity; and 4. Maintain sustainable cost growth. Through intentional collaboration between the CCO and health/human services providers, a local solution is created.

Jennifer Lind, CEO of Jackson Care Connect, states, “As a leader in health care transformation, we are designing new partnerships with our network to create the aligned incentives and to help us meet the CCO 2.0 requirements set by the state. We are pleased with the leadership Rogue Community Health is showing in partnering with us to develop new programs and services that can be shared with the entire network.”

For Rogue Community Health, a value-based payment model means changes in how we deliver medical, behavioral, integrative, and dental services as a focus on population health and patient health outcomes becomes the priority. This requires more coordination between providers throughout the network and RCH has been part of the early successes to reduce inpatient hospital use, avoid ER visits and reduce total cost of care. “Integrating behavioral health with our medical services has been under way since 2017 and we are beginning to see the results of that effort in terms of improved patient access and quality of care,” noted Dan Weiner, Chief Medical Officer for RCH. “Our Medication Assisted Treatment program (MAT) for opioid and substance use disorder has grown significantly in the last year to meet the demand.”

“RCH will continue to work toward developing a health system that is truly responsive to patients and assures access to all. We are happy to be able to do our part in making this a reality for the Rogue Valley,” noted William North. In 2018, Rogue Community Health provided 11,690 patients with 40,082 patient visits and has nearly 200 employees on staff. By focusing on value, RCH has greater capacity to help people access care as well as help resolve the underlying conditions that impact people’s health.