Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Eric C. Hunter, President and CEO of CareOregon
Feb 22, 2026
Eric C. Hunter, President and CEO of CareOregon with decades in Medicaid managed care, discusses aligning payers and providers to improve quality and access. He talks about using AI to reduce administrative burden and boost engagement. He covers regulatory hurdles that raise costs and the financial strain from rising behavioral health needs. He describes shifting leadership toward convening partnerships for sustainable solutions.
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From Petroleum Engineering To Medicaid Leadership
- Eric C. Hunter described his career shift from petroleum engineering to Medicaid after working for an Oklahoma governor who implemented Medicaid managed care.
- He later worked at Schaller-Anderson, Centene, ValueOptions, and Boston Medical Center Health Net Plan before joining CareOregon ten years ago.
Shifting From Codependency To Mutual Enablement
- CareOregon was provider-founded and is shifting from codependency to mutual enablement with providers to improve quality under cost pressures.
- The emphasis is on aligning payment with quality and performance rather than moving revenue to prop up provider operations.
Regulatory Rules Create Shared Cost Pressures
- Regulatory practices like merger rules, ownership restrictions, and staffing mandates create shared pressures for payers and providers by increasing costs and complicating care delivery.
- Hunter argues states should balance protecting the public with flexibility so systems remain sustainable.