reform efforts

Oregon Receives $21 Million in Health Technology Grants

February 24, 2010 -- Oregon will jumpstart another key element of health care reform – increasing the use and effectiveness of electronic health record technologies – thanks to two federal grants announced this month. Read More >>

Mental Health Integration Sees Light of Day

Three counties in Oregon – Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson – are ready to jump start a pilot project.
February 18, 2010 -- A small line item passed by the 2009 legislature could turn into Oregon’s largest mental health integration project. Read More >>

Oregon Regulators Stand Up to Insurers

It's a great day for consumers and small businesses, said State Sen. Chip Shields
February 16, 2010 -- Despite heated objections by health insurance companies, state regulators at the Oregon Insurance Division finalized rules on Tuesday (Feb. 16) making every part of their rate filing open to the public. Read More >>

Regence Wants Slow Approach on Reform

Since 2006, Massachusetts has seen a dramatic reduction in premiums for individuals and small businesses after creating an insurance exchange.
February 11, 2010 – It was quite a coincidence. Almost the same time Regence BlueCross BlueShield received approval to raise individual rates by 16 percent, one of its top executives urged policymakers to proceed slowly with setting up an insurance exchange so the market wouldn’t be disrupted.   Read More >>

Hospitals Unlikely to Put Mistakes in Writing

Oregon hospitals are also reporting too few errors, while on their way to adopting a standard surgical checklist
February 11, 2010 -- Despite a concerted effort by the Oregon Patient Safety Commission, Oregon hospitals are falling short in providing written notice to patients that a mistake occurred within their facility. Read More >>

Counties Vote to Prioritize Community Mental Health

County officials statewide manage nearly unanimous vote
February 11, 2010 -- An influential group of elected officials believe it’s more important to fund community mental health before building another hospital in Junction City that’s scheduled to open in 2013. Read More >>

Insurers, Consumers Battle Over Public Disclosure

Under the proposed rule, financial information considered confidential by insurance companies would be made public when they request a rate increase
February 4, 2010 -- A tug of war is under way between health insurers and consumer advocates over disclosure, and the decision rests in the hands of Oregon’s Insurance Division. Read More >>

It’s Time for Mental Health Parity for all Oregonians

February 4, 2010 -- There are more than 201,000 Oregonians who pay for insurance by themselves and who don’t have mandated mental health benefits. It's time they do.
Read More >>

Monitoring Program to Combine Health Professions

The controversial rehabilitation programs that came under fire for protecting their own will be replaced by one consolidated program
January 28, 2010 -- Medical licensing boards in Oregon will no longer operate their own substance abuse and mental health monitoring programs beginning in July. Read More >>

Psychologists Likely to Gain Prescribing Rights in Special Session

Among bills during next month’s special session is one that could end a decades-long battle between psychiatrists and psychologists in Oregon over prescribing
January 28, 2010 -- Robin Henderson knows first hand that central Oregon has a shortage of psychiatrists, which is why she believes giving psychologists the ability to prescribe mental health drugs is the right idea. Read More >>
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