410-141-3705 Criteria for CCOs (1) In administering the procurement process described in OAR 410-141-3700, the Authority shall require applicants to describe their capacity and plans for meeting the goals and requirements established for the Oregon Integrated and Coordinated Health Care Delivery System, including being prepared to enroll all eligible individuals within the CCO’s proposed service area. The Authority shall develop an RFA that includes, at a minimum, the elements described in this rule: (a) This rule lists legal requirements for CCOs, followed by corresponding application requirements that CCO applicants shall be required to address in the RFA; (b) The Authority shall interpret the qualifications and expectations for CCO contracting within the context of the laws establishing health system transformation, as well as the Oregon Health Policy Board’s adopted reports and policies; (c) The Authority’s evaluation of CCO applications shall account for the developmental nature of the CCO system: (A) The Authority recognizes that CCOs and partner organizations need time to develop capacity, relationships, systems, and experience to fully realize the goals envisioned by the Oregon Integrated and Coordinated Health Care Delivery System; (B) An applicant who does not yet satisfy an RFA criterion must, at a minimum, have plans in place to meet the criterion. Unless otherwise specified in law or in the RFA, the Authority may use discretion in assessing whether the applicant is likely to make sufficient progress in implementing those plans to merit selection as a CCO candidate. Depending on the applicant’s level of readiness, the Authority may consider invoking its authority under OAR 410-141-3700(4)(f) to deem an applicant “potentially eligible;” (C) Contract provisions, including an approved Transformation and Quality Strategy (TQS) and work plan for implementing health services transformation, shall describe how the CCO will comply with transformation requirements under these rules throughout the term of the CCO contract to maintain compliance. (2) Applicants shall describe their demonstrated experience and capacity for: (a) Managing financial risk and establishing financial reserves; (b) Meeting the following minimum financial requirements: (A) Maintaining restricted reserves of $250,000 plus an amount equal to 50 percent of the entity’s total actual or projected liabilities above $250,000; (B) Maintaining a net worth in an amount equal to at least five percent of the average combined revenue in the prior two quarters of the participating health care entities. (c) Operating within a fixed global budget; (d) Developing and implementing alternative payment methodologies that are based on health care quality and improved health outcomes; (e) Coordinating the delivery of physical health care, mental health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services, dental services , and covered long-term care services; (f) Engaging community members and health care providers in improving the health of the community and addressing regional, cultural, socioeconomic, and racial disparities in health care that exist among the entity’s enrollees and in the entity’s community. (3) Each CCO shall have a governance structure that meets the requirements of ORS 414.572. The applicant shall: (a) Clearly describe how it meets governance structure criteria from ORS 414.572, how the governance structure makeup reflects community needs and supports the goals of health care transformation, how the criteria are used to select governance structure members, and how it assures transparency in governance; (b) Identify key leaders who are responsible for successful implementation and sustainable operation of the CCO; (c) Describe how its governance structure reflects the needs of members with serious and persistent mental illnesses and members receiving Medicaid-funded long-term care, services, and supports. (4) Each CCO shall convene a community advisory council (CAC) that meets the requirements of ORS 414.572. The applicant shall clearly describe how it meets the requirements for selection and implementation of a CAC consistent with ORS 414.572, how the CAC is administered to achieve the goals of community involvement, and the development, adoption, and updating of the community health assessment and community health improvement plan. (5) CCOs shall partner with their local public health authority, hospital system, type B AAA, APD field office, and local mental health authority to develop a shared community health assessment that includes a focus on health disparities in the community: (a) Since community health assessments evolve over time as relationships develop and CCOs learn what information is most useful, initial CCO applicants may not have time to conduct a comprehensive community assessment before operating as a CCO; (b) The applicant shall describe how it develops its health assessment, meaningfully and systematically engaging representatives of critical populations and community stakeholders and its community advisory council to create a health improvement plan for addressing community needs that builds on community resources and skills and emphasizes innovation. (6) The CCO shall describe its strategy to adopt and implement a community health improvement plan consistent with OAR 410-141-3730. (7) CCOs shall have agreements in place with publicly funded providers to allow payment for point-of-contact services including immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases and other communicable diseases, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention services. Applicants shall confirm that these agreements have been developed unless good cause can be shown: (a) CCOs shall also have agreements in place with the local mental health authority consistent with ORS 414.153. Applicants shall confirm that these agreements have been developed unless good cause can be shown; (b) The Authority shall review CCO applications to ensure that statutory requirements regarding county agreements are met unless good cause is shown why an agreement is not feasible. (8) CCOs shall provide integrated, person‐centered care and services designed to provide choice, independence, and dignity. The applicant shall describe its strategy: (a) To assure that each member receives integrated, person‐centered care and services designed to provide choice, independence, and dignity; (b) For providing members the right care at the right place and the right time and to integrate and coordinate care across the delivery system. (9) CCOs shall develop mechanisms to monitor and protect against underutilization of services and inappropriate denials, provide access to certified advocates, and promote education and engagement to help members be active partners in their own care. Applicants shall describe: (a) Planned or established policies and procedures that protect member rights including access to qualified peer wellness specialists, peer-delivered services specialists, personal health navigators, and qualified community health workers where appropriate; (b) Planned or established mechanisms for a complaint, grievance, and appeals resolution process, including how that process shall be communicated to members and providers. (10) CCOs shall operate in a manner that encourages patient engagement, activation, and accountability for the member’s own health. Applicants shall describe how they plan to: (a) Actively engage members in the design and, where applicable, implementation of their treatment and care plans; (b) Ensure that member choices are reflected in the development of treatment plans, and member dignity is respected. (11) CCOs shall assure that members have a choice of providers within the CCO’s network, including providers of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and their providers participating in the CCO and shall: (a) Work together to develop best practices for care and service delivery to reduce waste and improve health and well‐being of all members; (b) Be educated about the integrated approach and how to access and communicate within the integrated system about a member’s treatment plan and health history; (c) Emphasize prevention, healthy lifestyle choices, evidence-based practices, shared decision-making, and communication; (d) Be permitted to participate in the networks of multiple CCOs; (e) Include providers of specialty care; (f) Be selected by the CCO using universal application and credentialing procedures, objective quality information, and are removed if the providers fail to meet objective quality standards; (g) Establish and demonstrate compliance with 42 CFR part 438, subpart K regarding parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits in alignment with contractual requirements; (h) Describe how they will work with their providers to develop the partnerships necessary to allow for access to and coordination with medical, mental health and mobile crisis services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) service providers, and dental services, and facilitate access to community social and support services including Medicaid-funded LTCSS, mental health crisis services, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services; (i) Describe their planned or established tools for provider use to assist in the education of members about care coordination and the responsibilities of both parties in the process of communication. (12) CCOs shall assure that each member has a consistent and stable relationship with a care team that is responsible for providing preventive and primary care and for comprehensive care management in all settings. The applicant shall demonstrate how it will support the flow of information, identify a lead provider or care team to confer with all providers responsible for a member’s care, and use a standardized patient follow-up approach. (13) CCOs shall address the supportive and therapeutic needs of each member in a holistic fashion using patient‐centered primary care homes and individualized care: (a) Applicants shall describe their model of care or other models that support patient-centered primary care, adhere to ORS 414.572 requirements regarding individualized care plans particularly for members with intensive care coordination needs, and screen for all other issues including mental health; (b) Applicants shall describe how its implementation of individualized care plans reflects member or family and caregiver preferences and goals to ensure engagement and satisfaction. (14) CCOs shall assure that members receive comprehensive transitional health care including appropriate follow‐up care when entering or leaving an acute care facility or long-term care setting to include warm handoffs as appropriate based on requirements in OAR 309-032-0860 through 0870. Applicants shall: (a) Describe their strategy for improved transitions in care so that members receive comprehensive transitional care, and members’ experience of care and outcomes are improved; (b) Demonstrate how hospitals and specialty services are accountable to achieve successful transitions of care and establish service agreements that include the role of patient-centered primary care homes; (c) Describe their arrangements, including memorandum of understanding, with Type B Area Agencies on Aging or the Department’s offices of Aging and People with Disabilities concerning care coordination and transition strategies for members. (15) CCOs shall provide members with assistance in navigating the health care delivery system and accessing community and social support services and statewide resources including the use of certified or qualified health care interpreters, and Traditional Health Workers (THW). THWs include: (a) Peer wellness specialists; (b) Peer-support specialists; (c) Personal health navigators; (d) Family support specialist; (e) Youth support specialist; (f) Doulas; and (g) Community health workers navigators. (16) The applicant shall describe its planned policies for informing members about access to all types of THWs identified in OAR 950-060-0010. (17) Services and supports shall be geographically located as close to where members reside as possible and are, when available, offered in non-traditional settings that are accessible to families, diverse communities, and underserved populations. Applicants shall describe: (a) Delivery system elements that respond to member needs for access to coordinated care services and supports; (b) Planned or established policies for the delivery of coordinated health care services for members in long-term care settings; (c) Planned or established policies for the delivery of coordinated health care services for members in residential treatment settings or long-term psychiatric care settings. (18) CCOs shall prioritize working with members who have high health care needs, multiple chronic conditions, mental illness, or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services including members with serious and persistent mental illness covered under the state’s 1915(i) State Plan Amendment. The CCO shall involve those members in accessing and managing appropriate preventive, health, remedial, and supportive care and services to reduce the use of avoidable emergency department visits and hospital admissions. The applicant shall describe how it will: (a) Use individualized care plans to address the supportive and therapeutic needs of each member, particularly those with intensive care coordination needs; (b) Reflect member or family and caregiver preferences and goals to ensure engagement and satisfaction. (19) CCOs shall participate in the learning collaborative described in ORS 413.259. Applicants shall confirm their intent to participate. (20) CCOs shall implement to the maximum extent feasible patient‐centered primary care homes including developing capacity for services in settings that are accessible to families, diverse communities, and underserved populations: (a) The applicant shall describe its plan to develop and expand capacity to use patient-centered primary care homes to ensure that members receive integrated, person-centered care and services and that members are fully informed partners in transitioning to this model of care; (b) The applicant shall require its other health and services providers to communicate and coordinate care with patient‐centered primary care homes in a timely manner using health information technology. (21) CCOs’ health care services shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate and focus on achieving health equity and eliminating health disparities. The applicant shall describe its strategy for: (a) Ensuring health equity (including interpretation and cultural competence) and elimination of avoidable gaps in health care quality and outcomes, as measured by gender identity, race, ethnicity, language, disability, sexual orientation, age, mental health and addictions status, geography, and other cultural and socioeconomic factors; (b) Engaging in a process that identifies health disparities associated with race, ethnicity, language, health literacy, age, disability (including mental illness and substance use disorders), gender identity, sexual orientation, geography, or other factors through community health assessment; (c) Collecting and maintaining race, ethnicity, and primary language data for all members on an ongoing basis in accordance with standards established by the Authority. (22) CCOs are required to use alternative payment methodologies consistent with ORS 414.598. Use of alternative payment methodologies shall be reported through the All Payer All Claims (APAC) data reporting system annually as prescribed in OAR 409-025-0125 and 409-025-0130. The applicant shall describe its plan to implement alternative payment methods alone or in combination with delivery system changes to achieve better care, controlled costs, and better health for members. (23) CCOs shall use health information technology (HIT) to link services and care providers across the continuum of care to the greatest extent practicable. The applicant shall describe their: (a) Initial and anticipated levels of electronic health record adoption and health information exchange infrastructure and capacity for collecting and sharing patient information electronically and its HIT Roadmap for meeting transformation expectations; (b) Plan to support increased rates of electronic health record adoption among contracted providers, and to ensure that providers have access to health information exchange for care coordination; (c) Plan to use HIT to make use of hospital event notifications and to administer value-based payment initiatives. (24) CCOs shall report on outcome and quality measures identified by the Authority under ORS 414.638, participate in the APAC data reporting system, and follow expectations for participation in annual TQS reporting to the Authority as detailed in the contract and external quality review with the Authority contracted External Quality Review Organization as outlined in 42 CFR §§ 438.350, 438.358, and 438.364. The applicant shall provide the following assurances: (a) Capacity to report and demonstrate an acceptable level of performance with respect to Authority-identified metrics; (b) Submit, or will submit, APAC data in a timely manner pursuant to OAR 409-025-0130. (25) CCOs shall be transparent in reporting progress and outcomes. The applicant shall: (a) Describe how it assures transparency in governance; (b) Agree to provide timely access to certain financial, outcomes, quality, and efficiency metrics that are transparent and publicly reported and available on the Internet. (26) CCOs shall use best practices in the management of finances, contracts, claims processing, payment functions, and provider networks. The applicant shall describe: (a) Its planned or established policies for ensuring best practices in areas identified by ORS 414.572; (b) Whether the CCO uses a clinical advisory panel (CAP) or other means to ensure clinical best practices; (c) Plans for an internal quality improvement committee that develops and operates under an annual quality strategy and work plan that incorporates implementation of system improvements and an internal utilization review oversight committee that monitors utilization against practice guidelines and treatment planning protocols and policies. (27) CCOs shall demonstrate sound fiscal practices and financial solvency and shall possess and maintain resources needed to meet their obligations: (a) Initially, the financial applicant shall submit required financial information that allows the DCBS Division of Financial Regulation on behalf of the Authority to confirm financial solvency and assess fiscal soundness; (b) The applicant shall provide information relating to assets and financial and risk management capabilities. (28) CCOs may provide coordinated care services within a global budget. Applicants shall submit budget cost information consistent with its proposal for providing coordinated care services within the global budget. (29) CCOs shall operate, administer, and provide for integrated and coordinated care services within the requirements of the medical assistance program in accordance with the terms of the contract and rule. The applicant shall provide assurances about compliance with requirements applicable to the administration of the medical assistance program. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 413.042, 414.615, 414.625, 414.635 & 414.651 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 414.610 - 414.685 History: DMAP 100-2024, minor correction filed 06/11/2024, effective 06/11/2024 DMAP 89-2022, amend filed 12/16/2022, effective 01/01/2023 DMAP 56-2019, adopt filed 12/17/2019, effective 01/01/2020