Oregon

Oregon’s ABCD III project, ABCD for Oregon’s Healthy Kids will build on a number of initiatives designed to promote the healthy development of children.  Specifically, Oregon Medicaid in collaboration with state, professional and community partners will use Medicaid’s quality improvement processes across systems that influence child development, with the goal of defining quality medical home practice for Oregon’s children.  Oregon is in an excellent position to undertake this project—the legislative and executive branches have placed priority on covering all of Oregon’s children and created an integrated Health Authority.  Also, their work in the ABCD Screening Academy catalyzed practice and policy improvements across systems by bringing together primary care, early intervention, and public health.  Oregon has identified two primary issues they plan to address in ABCD III:  (1) capitalize on improvements in the spread of structured screening in primary care and assure sustainable coordination models; and (2) strengthen the relationship between systems of care, including the medical home model.