Compared To Other Insurers, CCOs Spend Bigger Share Of Medical Budget On Primary Care

Oregon’s Medicaid insurers directed more of their spending towards primary care than high-earning commercial insurers, according to a report released by Oregon health and business officials Wednesday.

The report details $1.4 billion in primary care spending from payers who collectively covered 2.5 million Oregonians — or almost two-thirds of the state’s population — in 2017.

Investing in primary health care helps keep patients healthy, prevents more serious health problems and saves costs in the long run, health experts said.

"Primary care serves as the front line of Oregon’s health care system," Dr. Dana Hargunani, the Oregon Health Authority’s chief medical officer, said in a statement.