What is the Oregon Health Authority (OHA)?

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) was created by the 2009 Oregon legislature to bring most health-related programs in the state into a single agency to maximize its purchasing power.

Although the state is in the planning stages for organizing the new agency, work to change the health care system has already begun.

The OHA works with a nine-member, citizen-led board called the Oregon Health Policy Board. Members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

OHA will improve health care and health

The Health Authority will transform the health care system in Oregon by:

• Improving the lifelong health of Oregonians
• Increasing the quality, reliability, and availability of care for all Oregonians
• Lowering or containing the cost of care so it's affordable to everyone

OHA knows what it needs to do to improve health care: focus on health and preventive care, provide access to health care and reduce waste in the health care system. OHA will be tackling these problems in both the public and private sectors.

In the public sector, the OHA will consolidate most of the state's health care programs, including Public Health, the Oregon Health Plan, HealthyKids, employee benefits and public-private partnerships. This will give the state greater purchasing and market power to begin tackling issues with costs, quality, lack of preventive care and health care access.

In both the public and the private sector, OHA will be working to fundamentally improve how health care is delivered and paid for, but because poor health is only partially due to lack of medical care, the Health Authority will also be working to reduce health disparities and to broaden the state's public health focus.

Ultimately, OHA is charged with delivering a plan to the Legislature to ensure that all Oregonians have access to affordable health care.

Transition will be seamless to clients

Dr. Bruce Goldberg was appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to lead the formation of the Health Authority. Dr. Goldberg is the current director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). He will simultaneously serve as leader of both agencies during the transition.

The transition will mean the elimination of two existing boards, the consolidation of all state health care functions and a realignment of DHS. Three DHS divisions will move to OHA: addictions and mental health, medical assistance programs and public health. Child welfare, seniors and people with disabilities, and the food stamp program will remain in DHS. The changes will not disrupt services to clients.

Oregon views the transition as an opportunity to create a new kind of state agency. The Health Authority and DHS will share some administrative services, and planners are exploring ways to link the organizations to meet the needs of Oregonians.