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Advocacy News Update
Oregon Chapter of the ACC
Special thanks to our ACC lobbyist Amy Goodall and our Advocacy Chair Kirk Walker for their representation of the ACC's interests in Salem this legislative season.
To show your support of what our Oregon ACC Advocacy efforts are doing in Salem, please consider making your personal contribution to the American College of Cardiology - Oregon ACC Political Action Committee.
Making a PAC contribution is simple:
1) Click Here where you will be taken to a brief submission page.
2) Following that you will be taken back to the ACC Chapter web site where you can pay by check or using our secure PayPal payment site.
Will you support your Oregon ACC PAC
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ACC Oregon Update
On Friday (4/17), Speaker of the House, Dave Hunt (D-Gladstone) explained that the budget is $3.1 billion short right now (out of a total $16 billion). Hunt expects the deficit to be worse by the time of the next forecast that will be released on May 15th. He estimates that by the 15th we will be another $500-600 million short. Hunt says that all Oregonians should be braced for a cut in services and new revenue sources (including the provider tax).
The provider tax did pass out of the House Health Care Committee on Friday in HB 2116. The bill was amended to only include hospitals and insurance companies. A percentage for the tax has not been determined yet. HB 2009 will be the vehicle for the Oregon Health Authority proposal. It is expected to move out of the House Health committee Monday or Wednesday of this week.
Several of the bills that the Oregon ACC has been tracking are officially dead. Bills not scheduled for work sessions as of Friday are no longer viable. Because of this deadline the following bills will no longer show up on your tracking report. It is important to note that each legislator and committee get two "priority bills", that they can introduce at any time. Oregon ACC lobbyists Amy Goodall and Nan Heim will continue watching these bills and alert members if anything pertinent to the ACC appears.
In addition to priority bills, all legislation with health care "relating to" clauses need to be monitored as they are often times stripped of their original intent and filled with other language (AKA: Gut and Stuff).
There is strong interest from several Oregon Legislators in the Oregon STEMI Summit and what the Chapter is doing to "Discover the Oregon Solution!" More details to follow.... | |
ACC Oregon Capitol Weeks in Review
Here is an update of bills in the Oregon Legislature that are of interest to the cardiology community
Provider Taxes:
HB 2009 Update: (Oregon Health Fund Board proposal). Referred to the Health Care committee with subsequent referrals to Revenue and Ways and Means. Public Hearings held 2/4, 2/9, 2/11, 2/23, 2/27. Work Sessions held 2/27, 3/4, 3/6, 3/9, 3/13, 3/16, 3/18, 3/20, 3/25, 3/30, 4/3, 4/6, 4/8, 4/10, 4/13, 4/14, 4/17, 4/20. HB2116: (Provider tax proposal). Referred to Health Care with a subsequent referral to Revenue. Public Hearing held 4/6. Work session held 4/17, passed out of House Health Care Committee. Integrated Health Home:
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. SB 456: Referred to Health Care and Veterans' Affairs Hearing held 3/10. Public Hearings held 4/7, 4/16. Work Session scheduled 4/21. POLST :
This bill creates a registry for Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. SB451: Referred to Health Care and Veterans Affairs. Public Hearings held 2/19, 3/09, 3/30. Work Session held 4/7. Passed out of Senate committee and referred to Ways and Means 4/15.
Health Licensing Boards:
HB2058: Referred to Health Care, Public Hearing held on 1/28. (Standardizes all Health Licensing Boards). Work Session held 2/23. Passed out of committee with a do-pass recommendation 3/2. 3/5 Passed the House floor 58 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 excused. 3/16 Referred to Health Care and Veterans Affairs.
HB2245: Referred to Health Care:This is the Oregon Board of Radiologic Technology bill that expands the scope of professionals licensed by the board. Public Hearing held 2/9. Testimony submitted from Dr. Walker (Chair of the Oregon ACC Advocacy Committee) in support of the bill. Public Hearing and Work Session held 3/27. 4/1 passed out of Health Care committee with a do-pass recommendation and referred to Ways and Means. 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.
Public Hearings held 2/19, 3/26.
4/3 Passed out of Health Care Committee with do-pass recommendation.
4/7 Passed the Senate floor 27ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent.
4/13 Referred to House Health Care.
Tort Reform/Liability:
SB311: This is the legislature's attempt at setting a new cap for claims against public bodies (including OHSU).
Referred to Judiciary, Public Hearing held 1/22.
Work Session held on 2/11, passed out of committee on 2/13 with a do-pass recommendation.
2/23 Passed the Senate 24 ayes, 5 nayes, and 1 excused.
2/26 Referred to House Judiciary.
3/25 Public Hearing and Work Session held.
3/31 passed out of committee with a do-pass recommendation.
4/6 passed House 50 ayes, 8 nays, 2 absent.
4/8 Senate concurred on amendments
4/10 President signed.
4/13 Speaker signed.
4/15 Governor signed.
SB284: Referred to Judiciary.
This bill replaces SB307, which extends Statute of Ultimate Repose.
4/24 Work session scheduled.
Scope of Practice:
SB327: Referred to Human Services and Rural Health Policy.
This bill would essentially grant Naturopaths full prescriptive authority.
Public Hearing held 2/16. A work group is being formed to address the objections expressed to this bill by the United Medical Lobby and the D.O.'s.
3/18, 3/30 Work Sessions held.
4/1 Passed out of Senate Health Committee with a do-pass recommendation.
4/9 Referred to House Health Care.
HB 2702: Referred to House Health Care.
4/15 Public Hearing.
4/20 Work session scheduled but cancelled because amendments were not ready.
This bill would give prescriptive authority to psychologists who meet certain educational requirements. The psychiatrists have amendments that would require psychologists to complete a PA program and work under a physician if they want to prescribe.
Prescription Drug Database:
SB355: Referred to Human Services and Rural Health Policy with a subsequent referral to Ways and Means.
Public Hearings held 2/9, 2/11, 3/11 4/1.
Work Session scheduled 4/6, 4/13.
4/16 Passed out of committee with a do-pass recommendation and sent to Ways and Means.
This bill establishes a prescription drug-monitoring program for certain prescription drugs.
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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 Has Its Own PAC
HelpYour 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.
Ready to Contribute to the PAC? - Checks may be mailed to:
American College of Cardiology - Oregon Chapter PAC
PO Box 55424
Portland, OR 97238
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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.
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ACC Oregon Events - Save the Dates STEMI Summit
"Discover the Oregon Solution"
May 29, 2009 - 1:00 - 6:00 pm
Doubletree Hotel - Lloyd Center - Portland
Contact alan@cardiologyinoregon.org for more information
6th Annual Oregon Cardiovascular Symposium
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| Kirk Walker, MD, FACC
Oregon Advocacy Chair
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| Amy Goodall
ACC Oregon Lobbyist
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Alan Morasch
Oregon Chapter of the ACC
PO Box 55424
Portland, OR 97238
503-345-9294
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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