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Advocacy News Update
Oregon Chapter of the ACC
Welcome to the inaugural ACC Oregon Advocacy Update. The Chapter would like to encourage you to get involved in the legislative process in Oregon and develop an awareness of how the Oregon Legislature's actions relate to your cardiology practice. If you do not wish to receive these updates - please click on the unsubscribe button at the bottom of this page. |
Your ACC Oregon Advocacy Committee Members
Chaired by Kirk Walker, MD, FACC of Salem, your ACC Oregon Advocacy Committee is representing you and your practices on the State and National legislative scenes.
Current Advocacy Committee members are: Aly Rahimtoola, MD, FACC, Sanjiv Kaul, MD, FACC, Mike Widmer, MD, FACC, Doug Burwell, MD, FACC, Pasala (Ravi) Ravichandran, MD, FACC, Sandy Lewis, MD, FACC and Len Christie, MD, FACC. In addition the Chapter is represented by Amy Goodall of Nan Heim & Associates who is serving as the ACC Oregon Chapter lobbyist.
To join the committee, please contact Alan Morasch at
alan@cardiologyinoregon.org
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ACC Oregon Capitol
Week in Review - #2
Here's an update of bills in the Oregon Legislature that are of interest to the cardiology community - (provided by our lobbyist Amy Goodall)
Provider
Tax/Comprehensive Reform:
Several informational
hearings have been conducted already in these first two weeks of session to
discuss HB 2009. As discussed in
last week's report HB 2009 is the legislation that was created to carry out the
recommendations of the Oregon Health Fund Board. Republicans have begun
discussing some of the problematic pieces of the bill in public hearings as
well as in private meetings with Oregon ACC lobbyists.
Some of the concerns with
the bill are related to the new entity titled "The Oregon Health Authority" and
the far-reaching powers that this group would have. For example, it would give
the Authority the power to take over healthcare facilities, establish clinical
standards, and establish annual maximum limits on price increases charged by
providers.
The original HB 2009 includes
a tax on hospitals and insurance companies but in the Senate Health committee
on Thursday Representative Greenlick stated that it was likely that they would
have to expand the tax to include ASC's and imaging centers.
Meanwhile, the Governor's
provider tax bill HB 2116 has been
introduced and it includes hospitals, ASC's and insurance companies. At first
glance it appears that ASC's are not included because it describes a tax on
hospitals, but in the bill it redefines hospitals to include ASC's.
HB 2076,
the bill that imposes a tax on all health care providers is in the House
Revenue Committee and nothing to date has been scheduled.
Health Licensing Boards:
As mentioned in last weeks
report, Representative Greenlick has introduced HB 2058, which would standardize many aspects of health licensing
boards. The most contentious part of the bill is his proposal to require all
health licensing boards in Oregon
to have 50 minus 1 public members. This bill had a hearing this week where many
health licensing boards and their public members testified against this
proposal. The bill is set to have another hearing on 1/28. The fate of this
bill will impact the end result of the Oregon Board of Radiological Technology
bill, HB 2245, because we hope to
maintain assure diverse physician representation on the board. HB 2245 has not
been scheduled yet.
Other News:
Several lobbyists who
represent MD's and DO's have pulled together an official "United Medical Lobby"
(UML) group. Approximately 10 groups are represented at the table and are
committed to presenting a united front on issues important to physicians in Oregon. The group will have vote on which issues the UML
will support or oppose and only get involved in those matters when there is
complete consensus amongst the group.
Bill Tracking:
Below is the status of the
above bills and others we are following and have discussed in previous reports.
Listed is what committee they are in and what (if anything) has been scheduled
for them. The Council may or may not take official positions on these bills. If
you would like to read the entire measure all bills are available on the state
legislative website: http://www.leg.state.us/bills_laws/.
Provider Taxes (Discussed Above):
HB2009: Referred to the Health Care committee with
subsequent referrals to Revenue and Ways and Means.
HB2076: Referred to Health Care with a subsequent
referral to Revenue.
HB2116: Referred to Health Care with a subsequent
referral to Revenue.
Integrated Health Home:
HB2131: Referred
to Health Care with a subsequent referral to Ways and Means. This bill creates standards
for certification of integrated health care practices and establishes means for
collaborative exchanges of information about quality improvement and best
practices.
Health Licensing Boards (Discussed Above):
HB2058:
Referred to Health Care, Public Hearing Scheduled on 1/28.
HB2245:
Referred to Health Care.
Telemedicine:
SB24: Referred
to Health Care and Veterans' Affairs. This bill requires health
benefit plans to provide coverage of medically necessary, evidence-based
telemedical health services.
Tort Reform:
SB311:
Referred to Judiciary, Public Hearing held 1/22. This is the legislatures
attempt at setting a new cap for claims against public bodies (including OHSU).
No one testified against the bill at the first hearing.
Scope of Practice:
SB327:
Referred to Human Services and Rural Health Policy. This bill would essentially
grant Naturopaths full prescriptive authority.
Prescription Drug Database:
SB355:
Referred to Human Services and Rural Health Policy with a subsequent referral
to Ways and Means. This bill establishes a prescription
drug-monitoring program for certain prescription drugs.
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ACC Oregon Has Its Own PAC
Help Your Voice Be Heard!
After many years of watching other legislative groups getting their bills passed and potentially harmful legislation blocked, the ACC Oregon Council voted unanimously to form our own Political Action Committee (PAC). Kirk Walker, ACC Oregon Advocacy Chair, has agreed to serve as the Director of the PAC. Advocacy Committee member and ACC Councilor Aly Rahimtoola has agreed to serve as the PAC Treasurer.
The PAC's resources will be used to support the expense of having our own lobbyist representing the interests of cardiology in Salem, and will be used to support candidates who support medical causes and issues.
Please consider your role in ACC Oregon's Advocacy - either as a committee member or as a ACC - Oregon Chapter PAC contributor. Questions - please contact alan@cardiologyinoregon.org
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ACC Oregon
and the OMA Legislative Session
Day at the Capitol
The ACC Oregon Advocacy Committee is joining the OMA in the State Capitol for the Annual OMA Legislative Session Day on February 19th. With activities planned from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, your participation is encouraged for any and all of the activities. Many of the ACC Oregon Advocacy members will participate in the morning meetings with the OMA and then convene to meet individually with legislatures on meetings set up by our lobbyist Amy Goodall. Please let Alan know if you are able to attend.
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ACC Oregon Legislative Visits are Being Set - Are You Able to Attend?
Few things work better to inform and educate our legislators than a face-to-face visit from a constituent. Our lobbyist Amy Goodall is currently scheduling legislative visits for our cardiologists and CCA members to meet with legislators. Can you help? Upcoming Legislative Appointments are:
Mon., 2/9/09 - 9:30 am - Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D) NW Portland Tues., 2/10/09 - 1:30 pm - Rep. Ron Maurer (R) Grant Pass Tues., 2/10/09 - 2:30 pm - Sen. Bill Morrisette (D) Springfield Tues., 2/10/09 - 3:00 pm - Sen. Laurie Monnes-Anderson (D) Gresham Can you be available to meet your legislator in Salem and help spread the ACC Oregon message? Please let Alan know and he'll connect you with our lobbyist Amy Goodall. |
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Find Your Oregon Legislator
Through the State of Oregon Legislature Web Site you can find out who is your Oregon Representative or Senator. Check it out and consider getting involved.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
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ACC Oregon Events - Save the Dates
Oregon ACC and the OMA Legislative Session
Day at the Capitol February 19, 2009 - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Oregon State Capitol - Salem, Oregon
Contact Alan - alan@cardiologyinoregon.org to participate
STEMI Summit
"Discover the Oregon Solution"
May 29, 2009 - 1:00 - 6:00 pm
Doubletree Hotel - Lloyd Center - Portland
Contact Alan - alan@cardiologyinoregon.org for more information
6th Annual Oregon Cardiovascular Symposium
May 30 -31, 2009
Doubletree Hotel - Lloyd Center - Portland
Contact Alan - alan@cardiologyinoregon.org for more information | |
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Amy Goodall
ACC Oregon Lobbyist
E-mail Amy
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Oregon Chapter of the ACC
PO Box
55424
Portland, OR
97238
503-345-9294
www.cardiologyinoregon.org
Alan Morasch, CAE,
Chapter Administrator
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Our ACC Mission Statement
The mission of the Oregon Chapter of the
American College of Cardiology is to build a cohesive cardiovascular community
throughout the State of Oregon in order to locally promote cardiovascular
education, research, quality care and influence healthcare
policy.
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