AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OREGON

In late 2006, the Federal Communications Commission announced its plans to establish the Rural Healthcare Pilot Program (RHCPP). This program was designed to deploy a regional broadband network infrastructure connecting various health centers across the country, and would fund up to 85%of the infrastructure design, construction and ongoing costs for the 5-year duration of the program. In response to this opportunity, visionary leaders from Oregon’s existing telehealth community (including the Telehealth Alliance of Oregon and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems) collaborated in the design of an organization capable of expanding the telehealth network throughout the state. However, the organization wouldn’t end with the network. This team of forward thinkers intended an ongoing evolution to include additional services that will be beneficial to its participants, now and in the future.

With support from Governor Kulongoski, the Legislative Assembly and Oregon’s Congressional Delegation, the Oregon Health Network (OHN) was created in the early fall of 2007. The  Oregon Health Network is connecting all those with a vested interest in the business and science of healthcare, including leaders in education, treatment delivery, and legislation, as well as payers and related technologies. Essentially, if you help patients, we help you. By November of the same year, the FCC had selected its recipients for the program and allocated $417M over three years to 69 applicants. Together, the RHCPP recipients would have the ability to reach over 6,000 health care centers across 42 states and 3 U.S. territories. As the fifth largest award recipient, principal funding for building OHN’s broadband infrastructure comes from the unprecedented $20.2 million subsidy. This 5-year program pays 85% of all installation and service fees. OHN and its participants are then responsible for the remaining 15% in matching funds. As a result, installation is free for qualifying participants, and their monthly fees are covered at 85%.

The matching funds raised to date are coming from multiple sources, including the State of Oregon, various health care providers, insurers, community colleges, private foundations, and dedicated individuals looking to build a strong, healthy Oregon.