lobbying

Insurance Exchange Bill Likely to Progress Without Much Change

The fight for a stronger health insurance exchange in Oregon will likely take place beyond the legislative session as lawmakers look to pass a compromise bill
April 21, 2011 -- A month ago, Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland) told his Senate colleagues that he wouldn't vote for a bill creating a health insurance exchange if it included commissions for insurance brokers.  Read More >>

Soda Tax on the Menu for Oregon Legislature

Advocates likely face intense lobbying pressure from the soda industry if the bill even gets a chance
January 19, 2011 – Oregon public health advocates want the legislature to consider a new tax on soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages that would generate around $100 million annually. Read More >>

Toward an Effective and Sustainable Healthcare System

The author, who has come up with a sample set of principles to guide our healthcare system, also identifies the 15 biggest problems facing our dysfunctional system
January 19, 2011 -- Unless you were an insurance company, you desperately needed healthcare reform last year. Despite health plans lobbying to defeat reform using more than half a billion dollars of our health insurance premiums, money that should have treated our loved ones instead of fighting to treat no one, reform became law. Read More >>

Regence Lobbyist Joins Providence

May 20, 2010 -- Michael Becker is now director of advocacy and government affairs for Providence Health and Services, having left a similar position at Regence BlueCross BlueShield where he spent the past nine years. Read More >>

Standard Joined Regence Against Ballot Measures

Together both insurance companies spent $105,000 to defeat Ballot Measures 66 and 67 in a special election
March 4, 2010 – Regence BlueCross BlueShield wasn’t the only insurer that made a financial contribution to try and defeat Ballot Measures 66 and 67. Read More >>

Community Mental Health Association Replaces Lobbyist

Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs bids farewell to Bobby Green, welcomes Andy Smith as new legislative liason
February 24, 2010 -- “Andy’s combination of personal integrity, broad experience in state and local government and his knowledge of people and issues make him an invaluable member of our team”, said Gina Nikkel, Executive Director of the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs. Read More >>

A Call for Regence to Become Accountable

Regence’s actions are more consistent with a for-profit hedge fund
February 18, 2010 -- I just returned from 16 days in Singapore to start teaching my public health, health management and international health students again for Linfield’s spring semester. 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 >>

Regence Gave $70,000 to Defeat Ballot Measures 66 and 67

In doing so, Regence became the only health insurer in Oregon that contributed to the 'no' campaign
January 28, 2010 -- The victory celebrated by proponents of Ballot Measures 66 and 67, which will raise taxes on corporations and wealthy Oregonians, no doubt left one health insurer booing from the sidelines. Read More >>
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