Our Health Plan

Dr. Jim Rickards is a healthcare transformer who happens to be a radiologist. Currently, he is the Chief Medical Officer for the Oregon Health Authority which serves approximately 1.1 million individuals with Medicaid benefits. In this capacity, he oversees Oregon’s health evidence review commission, pharmacy and therapeutics committee, Transformation Center and clinical leadership. Prior to joining the Oregon Health Authority, he helped form the Yamhill Community Care Organization, a community-governed health care plan serving individuals with Medicaid benefits. He served as this organization’s Health Strategy Officer working to align the mission and vision of the organization with the resources and energy of the community. In addition to an MD degree from Indiana University, he holds a Healthcare Focused MBA from Oregon Health Science University/Portland State University. He completed residency and fellowship training in radiology in Chicago at Cook County Hospital and Rush University Hospital respectively. Just as he sees opportunities to improve individual-level health in the shadows of the x-rays and CAT scans he interprets, he sees an opportunity to improve population health in the data and policy options available both on a community and national level.