Sen. Alan Bates, D-Medford, died suddenly last Friday, putting state leaders and healthcare advocates in a state of shock as they remembered one of the fathers of the Oregon Health Plan, who was a champion to the end for better healthcare for all Oregonians, both as a legislator and an osteopathic physician.
The healthcare establishment has come out solidly behind the doctor and 14-year-veteran of politics from Ashland, but Republican business interests are backing Col. Dave Dotterrer in a rematch of the closest race from 2010, when Democratic Sen. Alan Bates held on by fewer than 300 votes.
After a personal appeal from Sen. Bates to Sen Winters, SB 1542 skirted through the Senate Wednesday, giving senior citizens a public option to meet their long-term care needs. If the House agrees, the Home Care Commission would expand beyond its Medicaid clientele to serve people paying for in-home caregivers with their own money.
Kaiser Permanente, Health Net, Cigna and Regence BlueCross BlueShield had been among the insurers to charge fees, though Regence said the charges had been a mistake and now supports the bill.
Sen. Alan Bates has pushed a bill that will help eliminate unnecessary trips to the drug store by allowing pharmacists to develop prescription drug plans with patients when chronic medications are refilled on the same date each month. The coordination of drug refills should save money and lives by making it easier for patients to adhere to their medication regimens.
The drive toward a Basic Health Plan for working-class Oregonians leaped over its first hurdle, as House Bill 4109 passed out of the House Health Committee 7-1 on the first day of the 2014 session.
Dr. Alan Bates, a Democratic senator from Medford, helped craft a fixed budget for the Public Employees Benefit Board that would be able to control costs through innovation. The doctor also chided PEBB on offering perks through self-reporting in its smoking cessation program.
June 13, 2013 — The Committee on Ways & Means on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 2 — giving $4.9 million in scholarships to Oregon Health & Science University for doctors and other healthcare professionals who agree to serve in rural and underserved areas.
Jun 13, 2013
Oregon Senate Votes to Give Nurse Anesthetists Prescriptive PowersChristen McCurdyThu, 04/25/2013 - 09:21
April 25, 2013 — The Senate passed Senate Bill 136 on a 26-3 vote, which will allow certified registered nurse anesthetists to write prescriptions for up to 10 days.