But now that more Oregonians have access to health insurance, are these E-R visits down?

There are conflicting results, but the most recent report shows a 13 percent decrease in E-R visits in the state.

Robin Henderson with ST. Cahrels Health System says we have to educate these new people to the system -- and how to use it.

"We have a lot of people put in the system that got insurance and it's a lot like the first time you get a bank accont, you don't automatically know how to use it.  We don't do a good job of teaching people how to access heathcare services and we don't do a good job of making it easy for them to do it."

Henderson says Medicaid has added 9-thousand people to the healthcare rolls in the area.

She says locally they try to be vigilant through their coordinated care organizations to help patients navigate the system.