oregon health plan

Oregon Health Plan Members Have a Strong Propensity to Smoke

Unless action is taken, the high costs associated with smoking could cripple the transformation process

June 15, 2011— The latest statistics show that 37 percent of people on the Oregon Health Plan are lighting up, which is of grave concern because of the high healthcare costs associated with smokers who may develop lung cancer, emphysema, asthma and other illnesses. Read More >>

Hospital Association Raises Objections to New Provider Tax

The hospitals are also upset over Senate Bill 204, which passed the House yesterday and gives the Oregon Health Authority the ability to lower outpatient rates based on Medicare payment methodologies

June 2, 2011 -- Legislators have reached a decision on increasing the hospital tax to ward off deep cuts to the Oregon Health Plan, but the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems insists the new tax will negatively impact them. Their leaders even protested to Governor Kitzhaber, but were rebuffed. Read More >>

Managed Care Plans Pay Top Salaries

A Clear One buy-out netted higher than average salaries last year as state prepares for major reform

May 27, 2011 – Gov. John Kitzhaber wants to trim as much waste out of Oregon’s Medicaid program as possible. So far the discussion has not extended, however, to tamping down on executive salaries or the type of profitable buy-outs like the one that occurred in Central Oregon last year. Read More >>

Healthcare Integration Begins Locally

Gov. John Kitzhaber’s health advisor says confidence is high on early cost savings

May 25, 2011 -- Across the state of Oregon, local communities are already thinking about how to integrate healthcare services under a newly revamped Medicaid program. Read More >>

Tighter Audits Due for Oregon Health Plan

The managed care plans want to double check state actuaries, which could come with greater administrative cost scrutiny

May 25, 2011 -- As lawmakers finalize a bill to make sweeping changes to the Oregon Health Plan, a battle is brewing behind the scenes with the managed care organizations that currently administer the Medicaid program’s benefits. Read More >>

Hospitals Warn Against Massive OHP Changes

The hospital association agrees to increase provider tax as lawmakers move forward with transformation

May 17, 2011 – The Oregon hospital association confirmed it’s prepared to finalize an agreement with lawmakers to increase the hospital provider tax as a way to dampen the massive cuts to the Oregon Health Plan slated over the next two years. Read More >>

Agreement Nears on OHP Transformation

Legislators could vote next week on moving the bill out of committee

May 12, 2011 – Oregon lawmakers were close this week to reaching agreement on the largest overhaul of the Oregon Health Plan since its inception in 1993. Read More >>

Senate Passes Bill to Prevent Medicaid Disputes

Impetus comes from a conflict last summer between CareOregon and FamilyCare

May 3, 2011 -- The Senate today unanimously passed a bill that attempts to avoid a similar dispute between Medicaid managed care organizations that occurred last year when a Portland-area pediatric group terminated its contract with CareOregon. Read More >>

Doubts, Warnings to Lawmakers Fill Transformation Testimony

Groups are worried about leaving some vulnerable populations behind and skeptical about alleged cost savings

April 28, 2011 -- Doubt and skepticism along with some strong warnings about revamping the Oregon Health Plan and other human services were heard loud and clear Wednesday night as lawmakers met to discuss House Bill 3650, the newly drafted healthcare transformation legislation. Read More >>

Kotek Sponsors Legislation to Improve Birth Outcomes

Doulas and other community health workers could be integrated into the Oregon Health Plan to help underprivileged and underserved women

April 28, 2011—A bill that would integrate doulas and other community health workers into the Oregon Health Plan passed the House unanimously on Tuesday.

oregon health plan