Health Care Updates

I'm working hard to help Oregonians have access to quality healthcare without breaking the bank. I'm excited about many of the things that are happening, from the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which was legislation I sponsored in 2021, to what's happening with the rollout of the Oregon Health Plan for the coming five years. In case you missed it, on the federal level, Medicare is going DOWN in cost next year (when does that happen?) because of the reduction in cost of one particular Alzheimer's drug that legislators fought for and won. And as of October 6th, you have the legal right to receive your entire medical record digitally. Here's more of what is happening in Oregon:

1. Medicaid redetermination. There are approximately 1.5 million Oregonians currently on Medicaid, called the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). When the federal public health emergency declaration is lifted, which people presume will be in early 2023, then all those folks will need to go through a redetermination process to see if they still qualify. You may recall that the eligibility for coverage was expanded to include those with higher incomes, and when the emergency ends, so does that expansion. The Oregon Heatlh Authority is working with the legislature on a "bridge plan" to help keep health insurance affordable for people who might lose coverage otherwise, estimated to be somewhere between 30,000-70,000 Oregonians.

2. Medicaid waiver. Every five years, each state has to renegotiate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for the menu of services for which federal dollars can be used. This process, which took much of the last two years, is nearly complete. What's new this year is the addition of support for prevention of homelessness, and nutrition support. More information can be found here: Federal Government Approves Oregon Medicaid Waiver, Including First-in-Nation Medicaid Funding for Food and Housing (govdelivery.com),

3. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (SB 844) is now fully staffed and has a full Board, following the final Oregon Senate confirmations of the last two appointees on September 24th. This 8-member board, which is supported by a full-time executive director and support staff, is housed at the Division of Financial Regulation of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. It is tasked with reviewing whether pharmaceuticals present an affordability challenge to consumers, as well as to study the entire prescription drug distribution and payment system in Oregon, as well as other states and countries, that are designed to lower the list price of prescription drugs and make recommendations to the legislature. More information can be found here:
Division of Financial Regulation : Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) : Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board : State of Oregon

4. The Task Force on Universal Health Care has completed its final report with recommendations on how to close the gap between universal health insurance coverage, and where we are now, and how to provide better healthcare for less cost. Currently, about 5% of Oregonians are uninsured. Their final report is available here: Oregon Health Authority : Task Force on Universal Health Care : Office of Health Policy : State of Oregon