- Exchanges: Governor John Kitzhaber signed S.B. 99 into law in June 2011, establishing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Corporation. The exchange board developed a proposed implementation plan in December 2011 and introduced it to the state legislature. In March 2012, both chambers passed H.B. 4164, which approved the final version of the business plan. Implementation efforts are ongoing, and the exchange board anticipates completion of its certification process and requirements for providers participating in the exchange.
- Essential Health Benefits: The Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Board met on June 14 and made a preliminary recommendation that endorsed the state’s third largest small group plan as the EHB benchmark. The Oregon Health Policy Board and the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Board held a joint meeting in August where they endorsed a small group plan as the state’s essential health benefits benchmark.
- Medicaid Expansion: Governor Kitzhaber has said he is confident the legislature will expand Medicaid, but no official decision has been announced.
- Medicare Advantage Enrollment: Oregon currently has 286,300 seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage, or about 43% of all Medicare beneficiaries.
NEWS OF NOTE
» OPB – Oregon Medical Costs Will Go Up Under Federal Health Care Overhaul
» Associated Press – Health care reform cost study predicts some premiums rise
» Governor Kitzhaber statement on U.S. Supreme Court ACA decision (press release)
» NPR – Oregon’s Medicaid Experiment Represents a ‘Defining Moment’
» OPB – Oregon’s Idea for Fixing Medicaid Hits the National Stage
» The Oregonian – Gov. John Kitzhaber Announces $1.9 Billion Health Care Agreement with Federal Government
» Wall Street Journal – Oregon Gets Extra Funds to Test New Medicaid Method
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