New administrative rules concerning the role of chiropractic physicians, naturopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, and nurse practitioners as primary care providers within coordinated care organizations will be soon addressed by the Oregon Health Authority.
This is vitally important, especially in where the profession of chiropractic is headed and the role of chiropractic physicians as primary care providers.
Chiropractic physicians (who wish to) practice at the top of their licensure in Oregon can act in the capacity of a primary care provider/physician. A coalition of health care providers (the Oregon Coordinated Care Organization) was able to get this into the proposed rules concerning coordinated care organizations, but the wording is convoluted and needs clarifying language.
The proposed rule language states under “410-141-3160 Integration and Care Coordination, (2)(a) Demonstrate that each member has a primary care provider or primary team that is responsible for coordination of care and transitions and that each member has the option to choose a primary care of any eligible CCO participating provider type.” We suggest adding clarifying language which states; “An eligible CCO provider type means a health care provider who can provide primary services which include chiropractic, naturopathic, osteopathic, or medical physician or a nurse practitioner.”
We used the term “primary care provider” instead of “primary care physician” to help out our coalition member nurse practitioners.
Your public testimony is needed to help get this vital clarifying language in the rules added.
Please email public comments to: [email protected] in favor of the clarifying language, “An eligible CCO provider type means a health care provider who can provide primary services which include chiropractic, naturopathic, osteopathic, or medical physician or a nurse practitioner.”
Public testimony ends July 22, so please send your public comments by July 21.
– Contributions to this made by Dr. Vern Saboe
