legislative updates

House May Roll Back Bill Expanding Drug Monitoring Program

Rep. Mitch Greenlick opposes allowing the Board of Pharmacy to add drugs to the tracking system that are not controlled by the DEA, aligning his concerns with the American Civil Liberties Union.
May 9, 2013 — Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, has moved to scale back a measure that would enhance the Oregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, citing concerns raised by the American Civil Liberties Union. Read More >>

Conference Committee Wants Under-18 Ban for Tanning Beds

The move should clear the way for Oregon to be the third state to ban tanning for minors, and comes a day after the Food and Drug Administration proposes warning labels for the carcinogenic devices.
  May 8, 2013 -- A day after the Food and Drug Administration proposed new warning labels about the risk of cancer from tanning beds, the Oregon Legislature moved closer to banning commercial tanning salons from serving customers younger than 18.
 
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Bill Giving Teens Unfettered Access to Therapists Arouses Debate Over Parental Rights

Senate Bill 491 would allow teens to bypass their parents when seeking help for mental health issues, which can arise from conflicts with their parents.
  May 7, 2013 — Teens struggling with a problem at home could have a better chance to access mental health services under a bill debated Monday in the House Health Committee.
 
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Salem Reps File ‘Bad Actor Bill’ to Force End to Salem Health Lawsuit

HB 3309 would allow the Oregon Health Authority director to kick off a CCO member and lower its compensation. Rep. Brian Clem said he filed the bill to end a court battle in his district that threatens the entire CCO model.
May 3, 2013 — The Legislature could soon be wading into the ugly dispute between Salem Health and its coordinated care organization, Williamette Valley Community Health. Read More >>

Nurse Practitioners and Chiropractors Want More Workers’ Comp Patients

Senate Bill 533 awaits only a House vote to become law, expanding the length of time that a nurse practitioner can see an injured worker and giving workers access to their preferred chiropractor.
May 2, 2013 -- People who suffer an injury on the job will get better access to a nurse practitioner or their favored chiropractor under a Senate bill that should become law. Read More >>

Bill Lets Women Take Placenta Home with Baby

Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer has sponsored HB 2612, which would let mothers legally remove a placenta from the hospital for cultural purposes.
May 1, 2013 — The placenta is what separates us from the marsupials. The organ connects a fetus to a mother’s uterine wall and allows for the exchange of nutrients and waste for the developing baby. Read More >>

Cogen Says Multnomah County Could Levy 50¢ Cigarette Tax

If the Legislature passes HB 2870 giving cigarette taxing authority to counties, the Multnomah County Chair told the Senate Finance Committee that Oregon’s most populous county would consider raising taxes by a half dollar.
April 30, 2013 — Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen told the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee on Monday that the state’s biggest county would consider a 50¢ cigarette tax if the state allows counties to collect their own tobacco tax. Read More >>

Oregon Senate Votes to Give Nurse Anesthetists Prescriptive Powers

Sen. Alan Bates, D-Medford, an osteopathic physician, opposed the bill, telling The Lund Report he saw no need for these specialized nurses to have prescriptive powers, echoing the position of the Oregon Medical Association.
April 25, 2013 — The Senate passed Senate Bill 136 on a 26-3 vote, which will allow certified registered nurse anesthetists to write prescriptions for up to 10 days. Read More >>

Senate Passes “Air-Conditioner Bill” to Help CCOs

SB 724 sets the stage for coordinated care organizations to use their global medical budget to pay for common-sense social work expenses that would keep vulnerable Medicaid patients out of the hospital and lead to lower costs. CCOs still need federal approval.
April 24, 2013 — A measure that directs the Oregon Health Authority to set up codes to bill non-medical expenses for patients on the Oregon Health Plan sailed through the Senate on a 26-1 vote yesterday. Read More >>

‘Churn Bill’ Looks to Help People Switching from Medicaid to Cover Oregon

Starting in 2016, 60,000 Oregonians may find themselves moving between the Oregon Health Plan and Cover Oregon, and potentially losing access to their doctors or coverage of ongoing procedures. HB 2132 requires the OHA and Cover Oregon to take steps to alleviate this problem.
April 24, 2013 — Next year, the Affordable Care Act will allow people whose income falls below 138 percent of the federal poverty level to receive coverage through the Oregon Health Plan. Read More >>
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