Lane County Seeks To Preserve Prevention Funding During CCO Transition

County leaders in Lane County are working to ensure continuity of nearly $2.2 million in prevention contracts after PacificSource announced it will leave its role as a coordinated care organization in the county. Trillium Health Plan is overseeing the transition of more than 90,000 members, and county staff are engaged in talks with Trillium about whether the nonprofit insurer will continue existing prevention work or assume full responsibility for the contracts.

The prevention dollars support programs run by Lane County Public Health, including prenatal smoking cessation services and school based suicide prevention initiatives. These efforts are designed to reduce preventable illness and hospital use by addressing health risks early, and they often serve people with the greatest needs. Historically the contract funding was split about 70 percent from PacificSource and 30 percent from Trillium based on member counts, a formula that is now in flux as the CCO relationship changes.

County officials say they are concerned about provider network capacity, growing appointment wait times and provider turnover during the transition period. Recent layoffs at PeaceHealth were cited as part of broader staffing instability that could affect access to primary care and behavioral health services. Those operational pressures increase the stakes for preserving prevention programs that help keep people out of hospital emergency departments and support vulnerable groups such as pregnant people and school aged youth.

Commissioners and public health staff have been participating in calls with the Oregon Health Authority and with coordinated care organizations as part of the transition process. The county has reserves that could temporarily sustain some programs if needed, but officials caution that reserve funds are not a sustainable long term substitute for stable contract funding. Maintaining prevention programming is both a health equity issue and a cost containment measure, since continuity of community based services can reduce the need for more intensive medical care later.

For Lane County residents relying on prenatal supports, youth mental health services or community prevention initiatives, the negotiations will determine whether existing services continue uninterrupted. If funding arrangements shift or temporary gaps arise, low income and marginalized populations could face disproportionate impacts given their reliance on coordinated care networks and county prevention programs.

The report detailing these developments was published on November 12 2025. As talks continue, the county and its partners will need clear plans from CCOs and state officials to preserve prevention capacity, stabilize provider networks and protect services that promote health equity across the community.