The state of Oregon has taken a number of steps to ensure that health care is coordinated among providers.  Primarily, Oregon has established a patient centered primary care home program within the Office of Health Policy and Research.  The medical home model must promote care coordination, disease management and prevention.1  The Office of Health Policy and Research must establish a collaborative that allows state agencies, medical homes, and insurers, to share information to improve the quality of care, coordinate efforts to align payment incentives, coordinate research efforts, and share best practices.2  Other efforts to promote collaboration among state health agencies include increased coordination between the Department of Human Services, the Oregon Health Authority, the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and other stakeholders to develop a health care information system using the data that has been reported by all health insurers within the state.3  This increased cooperation should be made available for quality improvement and comparison purposes.4

        The state’s Public Health Division allows the sharing of cancer treatment service information of a patient who has been seen by multiple facilities or practitioners to allow for more coordinated care.5  The state requires all mental health providers to make available relevant clinical and financial information about a patient to other community health and developmental disability service agencies within the state.6  Similarly, the regional acute care psychiatric service (RACPS) must provide the Addictions and Mental Health Division of the Oregon Health Authority with information about persons admitted to or discharged from the service via the Division’s on-line Oregon Patient/Resident Client System.7  In addition, RACPS must also conduct discharge planning with the patient and his/her family.8  To further the goal of better care management, providers participating in the Family Planning Expansion Program (part of the state’s Medicaid program) must take steps to ensure that staff and personnel have special cultural and language skills to better serve their communities.9

        Oregon also encourages the patient’s involvement in his or her care.  Clients of the Division of Medical Assistance have the right to be actively involved in their own care and treatment plans.10  Nursing home residents11, home health residents12 and clients of in-home care have the right to participate in their own care and are required to provide informed consent to care.13  Patients receiving mental health community treatment and support services have the right to participate in their care, have all services explained to them, are required to give informed consent to treatment, and have the right to have their family involved in treatment.14  Non-inpatient mental health treatment services are also required to involve the patient at all stages of treatment.15  Providers taking part in the Family Planning Expansion Program must also obtain the patient’s informed consent to participate and receive services.16