HB 2009 Update  The House Health Care committee continued to work on the Oregon Health Fund Board bill, HB 2009, this week. Representative Greenlick (D-Portland), chair of the House Health Care Committee, announced that he intended to pass HB 2009 out of his committee by the end of March. The bill will subsequently go to the Revenue Committee, Ways and Means, and the floor of the House and the Senate. HB 2009 will not only determine what type of Provider Tax is adopted to cover more uninsured Oregonians, it also attempts to revamp the way that health care is delivered in Oregon.

Work sessions have been scheduled through the end of March for the committee to amend the bill. We have already had meetings with Representative Garrett (D-Lake Oswego), Senator Bates (D-Ashland), and Representative Nolan (D-Portland) to express our concerns over components of HB 2009 including the provider tax and the creation of the Oregon Health Authority.

The original bill is nearly 300 pages. The committee has begun going through the first round of amendments (52 pages worth). The committee will continue looking at the amendments and additional amendments can be requested by interested stakeholders through this week for the committee's consideration.

The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) is attempting to gain support for an alternative tax proposal. Their proposal would keep the hospital tax at the current rate and place a 1% tax on all "health exchanges" to be paid by Third Party Administrators. This would only raise about 60% of what is required to cover the uninsured children and adults in the Governor's plan.  It is uncertain at this point what other groups may support this alternative.

At this point individual physicians and their practices are not included in the provider tax proposal. We will continue to advocate against any proposals on taxes beyond hospitals and insurance companies.
Representative Maurer (R-Grants Pass), is the co-chair of the House Health Committee. He has amendments that would eliminate the entire section of HB 2009 that creates the Health Authority and an alternative amendment that would send the proposal that HB 2009 creates to the voters for approval.

Advocacy chair Kirk Walker and Lobbyist Amy Goodall are meeting with Representative Maurer this week to discuss the bill and his amendments. The following week, Oregon ACC Governor, Mike Widmer and Amy will be meeting with Senators Monnes-Anderson, Morrisette, Telfer, and Representatives Whisnant and Greenlick. The Oregon ACC will be developing a position paper on this bill to distribute to all legislators.

SB307 extends Oregon's Statute of Ultimate Repose for product liability lawsuits. Currently In Oregon there is a seven-year window on products liability lawsuits. The Oregon Trail Lawyers Association is making another attempt to extend this. This is problematic for physicians and centers that put products in patients (Orthopedic implants, stints, etc.) because they may be named in lawsuits if a product fails. There is a large coalition of business, healthcare, and other lobbyists opposing this bill. There is a federal statute regarding products approved by the FDA however it does not remove the possibility that physicians will be named in lawsuits. Even though they are likely to be taken out of suits later, it still takes time and money to get removed from the lawsuit.
HB2132 requires the Department of Human Services to establish and operate a statewide registry of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). This bill is part of the Oregon Health Fund Boards recommendations. This bill will have its first hearing next week.

Integrated Health Home:

POLST : 

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.

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.