reform efforts

Mental Health Drugs To Come Under Review by Central Oregon Health Council

These drugs will continue to be reimbursed by the Oregon Health Authority’s Department of Medical Assistance Programs but provide local officials with more information on the effectiveness of the medications
March 1, 2012—By July, the Oregon Health Authority is expected to begin providing real-time data to the Central Oregon Health Council, which coordinates the care of Oregon Health Plan patients in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties, on the mental health drugs used by people living in that area. Read More >>

Workgroup Recommends Oregon Health Plan Use Doulas

Members think doulas could be easily integrated into services
February 29, 2012—A workgroup charged with studying how doulas could be incorporated into the Oregon Health Plan told legislators earlier this week that doing so could help improve birth outcomes, particularly in minority communities. Read More >>

Amid Proposed TriMet Cuts, Activists Fight for Transit Equity

Critics of the cuts say decreased investment in public transit will have a negative impact on health outcomes
February 29, 2012 -- Earlier this month, TriMet announced sweeping cuts that activists say would have a significant impact on health outcomes for people in Portland. Read More >>

Rep. Jim Thompson Focuses on Keeping Oregonians Healthier

At an informational hearing, he said that he wants more attention focused on weight loss programs
February 28, 2012 -- Looking at options for healthcare was the focus of an informational meeting of the Oregon House Health Care Committee recently to discuss a weight-loss program known as Take Shape for Life. Read More >>

Oregon Doctors Rise Up Against Individual Mandate

Physicians hope to remove roadblock to universal coverage and lower overall healthcare costs
February 28, 2012 -- Three Oregon physicians are among a group of 50 doctors who filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court arguing that the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act should be struck down. Read More >>

Attempts to Amend Nurse Practitioner Bill Failed

In the end, the Oregon Nurses Association was unwilling to budge
February 25, 2012—Some legislators, including freshman Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer (D-Portland), hoped that the referral of a bill reimbursing nurse practitioners at the same rate as physicians to the House Rules Committee wouldn’t mean that the bill would die, but that it could be amended to address the concerns of various constituencies. Read More >>

Transformation Bill Passes the House

It is expected to be signed into law within days, allowing coordinated care organizations to be created
February 25, 2012—The bill allowing for the overhaul of the Oregon Health Plan’s delivery system passed the House with an overwhelmingly bipartisan 53-7 vote today, after being stalled for days because it became a part of end-of-session political negotiating and bargaining. Read More >>

Feds Jump-Start Health Insurance Co-Ops With Loans

February 21, 2012 -- Seven organizations will receive a total of $639 million in federal low-interest loans to launch new, consumer-governed health insurance plans in eight states, the federal government announced Tuesday. Read More >>

DOJ Memo Reveals Constitutional Concerns About Medical Liability Amendments

It was enough to convince Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), who proved to be the swing vote that led to the passage of healthcare transformation
February 17, 2012—The vote of Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), a crucial swing vote when the Senate decided to allow the Oregon Health Authority to move ahead with creating coordinated care organizations (CCOs) and overhauling the Oregon Health Plan’s delivery system, changed at the last moment because memos from the Department of Justice and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) revealed serious constitutional concerns about the proposed medical liability language for Senate Bill 1580. Read More >>

Legislation Giving Nurse Practitioners Equal Pay Appears Dead

Although the bill sailed through the House Healthcare Committee, Rep, Jason Conger succeeded in getting the bill sent to the House Rules Committee, where bills usually die
February 17, 2012—Legislation that would reimburse nurse practitioners at the same rate as primary care doctors failed to pass on the House floor last week as expected, and instead was sent to the Rules Committee where such bills usually die. Read More >>
Syndicate content

© Copyright 2013 by The Lund Report | Privacy Policy Development by: Roger Leigh | Design by:  Parachute Strategies