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Lane County officials are negotiating $2.2 million in prevention work while monitoring service continuity amid a strained health system. PacificSource is preparing to leave its Medicaid role in 2026 while Trillium moves to absorb more than 90,000 members.
A unique local funding model for healthcare prevention efforts is in flux as Lane County administrators navigate the Medicaid transition from PacificSource to Trillium, according to discussion Monday, Nov. 10, at the Lane County Public Health Advisory Committee.
Under a transition plan with the Oregon Health Authority, PacificSource will end its service in Lane County as a coordinated care organization in 2026. Trillium, the county’s other coordinated care organization, is preparing to absorb more than 90,000 members who have relied on PacificSource for care and expand its provider network during the shift.
“Where this really comes in specifically to public health is because we do have a contracted piece of the work that specifically provides primary prevention work,” said Brian Johnson, deputy manager of the Healthy Communities Unit at Lane County.
A nearly $2.2 million contract supports people who are pregnant and trying to quit smoking, school-based suicide prevention efforts, and other work intended to keep people out of hospitals and doctors’ offices. The contract is split between PacificSource and Trillium about 70% and 30%, proportional to the number of members served.
The program was created through local negotiation with the two coordinated care organizations and is administered by Lane County Public Health.
Johnson said the county is now negotiating with Trillium to continue or assume full responsibility for the work. Reserves built over several years could temporarily sustain programs if needed.
The funding accounts for a small part of PacificSource’s broader support for county services, including the Community Health Centers of Lane County.
Lookout Eugene-Springfield requested an update from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Monday, Nov. 10, and had not received a response as of Tuesday evening.
In October, OHA spokesperson Amy Bacher said public-facing communication materials were in development and that member and provider engagement sessions were planned for November. She said the state and coordinated care organizations were assessing provider networks and the health needs of members moving to Trillium.
State and county leaders have emphasized service continuity as the transition approaches.
Commissioner Laurie Trieger, who attends the public health committee meetings, said Monday she has been regularly joining calls with OHA about PacificSource and the transition. She said oversight of communication and implementation remains critical as the local health system faces ongoing challenges, including provider turnover and recent layoffs at PeaceHealth.
“Having a list of providers is one thing, but understanding what is the wait time to get an appointment? How many slots do those providers have available for their Medicaid patients? These are some of the questions,” Trieger said. “Both for us as a health care deliverer in Lane County and for the system overall, it’s absolutely a concern.”
