May 03, 2012

Wyden Statement on Oregon Waiver for Medicaid Demonstration Project

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agreement to grant a waiver to the State of Oregon allowing our state to create a coordinated care program for Medicaid beneficiaries that will have the potential for billions in Medicaid savings over the next ten years:

“Oregon is proving once again why it should be called ‘the innovation state.’ The waiver agreed to today to create community-based coordinated care organizations is a big win for Oregon patients and taxpayers and has the potential for being a new model for Medicaid. At a time when many states are trying to figuring out where to cut their health programs, Oregon has once again shown that being creative can be the key to offering the same high, quality care at less cost. The Oregon waiver will save the state and federal government billions of dollars over the next ten years and will do so without reducing benefits or cutting the number of eligible enrollees.  I thank HHS and Secretary Sebelius for seeing the benefits of this approach and look forward to working with the Secretary and Governor Kitzhaber as the program progresses.”