The Willamette Valley Council (WHC) is an organization that focuses on giving back to the community by directing the funds of the Marion and Polk County Coordinated Care Organization (CCO).
Founded in 2019, The WHC is the governing body for Pacific Source Community Solutions and together they manage the CCO to help advance health system transformation, improve the quality and availability of health care, invest in the determinants of health, work to eliminate the disparities of health inequity and reduce the cost of health care.
“A big part of what we do is reinvest Pacific Source funds,” said Executive Director Justin Hopkins. “They cap their margin at 2 percent, and everything else is reinvested in the community and goes to the health board. We’ll then work with the board to find the most effective way to return the money, whether it’s for education, housing, or transportation. Our annual report will give us a good idea.”
The organization helps reinvest a lot of Medicaid dollars back into the community and the annual report shows where all the investments go every year.
“For Medicaid in Oregon, we have what are called coordinated care organizations that have contracts with the state of Oregon,” Hopkins said. “They’re like the insurance company for those with Medicaid. We work with them in this region alone. They cover an average of 145,000 to 150,000 people and ensure they have coverage for their healthcare services.”
In their agreement with Pacific Source, Willamette Health Council takes the lead in the forward-facing work. Additionally, they administer a clinical advisory panel with 20-30 health care practitioners that come together and provide the organization with strategic direction, funding priorities, youth and family services, responsibility for the system of care and diversity and inclusion work.
“Pacific Source has a unique model in that it operates the insurance side and contracts with providers, handles claims, contracts with the state, but contracts a couple of functions to the Willamette Board of Health,” Hopkins said.
The organization is well known amongst the community-based organizations and health care partners in Marion and Polk County and uses some of their funds for competitive community grants as well as donations and sponsorships.
The amount they can work with each year depends on Pacific Source’s profitability. If it’s not a profitable year for Pacific Source, there will be less money in the community. In 2023, they had $12.7 million to spend, the highest amount they’ve ever had. In 2022, the figure was $0, and in 2024, it was $4 million.
“Every year, we implement our Community Impact Grants, which the community can apply for,” Hopkins said. “The Willamette Health Council assesses the overall health of the community, and we seek to develop strategies to impact the broader population.”
Willamette Health Council is a beacon for the community and will continue working to find the best ways to invest in the overall health of Marion and Polk County.