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Cover Oregon to Keep Premium Tax Despite Switch to Federal Website

The premium tax will cost a family of four about $460 a year, which Cover Oregon officials insist is still needed despite moving to the federal website, healthcare.gov.

May 29, 2014

Oregon Health Insurance Rate Review

May 28, 2014

Hospital Finances: OHSU and VA Hospitals

OHSU reports highest revenue of any Oregon hospital, likely a reflection of several factors: because of its affiliations with researchers and academics, it provides a disproportionate share of complex, high-cost treatments.

May 28, 2014
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Portland CCOs Not Ready to Manage Ride Service Due to HIPAA Concerns

The state has lacked an official privacy policy to govern people who give rides to Medicaid clients, creating a potential liability nightmare. As a result, the Portland-area CCOs will not be ready to take over responsibility for non-emergency transportation services, although others, including Salem, are moving ahead in July.

May 27, 2014

PSU and OHSU Students Challenged to See Where Fit in Healthcare Transformation

Panelists suggest they need to collaborate, know what others do and focus on improving the health of populations

May 27, 2014

Merkley Pushes for Potatoes in WIC Program Over Nutritionists’ Concerns

The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to require that the WIC program add potatoes to its vegetable package. The vote overrules scientific studies that show poor women and children already eat more potatoes than they need but not enough fruits and other vegetables.

May 27, 2014

School Wellness Award “Just the Beginning” at Lynch View Elementary School, Centennial School District

One of three Oregon schools recognized with an “Oregon School Wellness Award, Principal Jim Mangan says that the schools’ commitment to wellness is “only increasing”

May 27, 2014

Why Did the Federal Government and Several States Have So Many Problems Setting Up the Computer Programs for the Public Exchanges? Rachel Monahan Mon, 05/26/2014 - 21:11

Not only did those involved underestimate the complexity of the projects, they also had some latent hostility toward private insurers, according to this author.

OPINION: While mountains of commentary appeared about the problems with the so-called “roll out” of the computer system for the federal Affordable Care Act, there were also similar problems in several states that had decided to run their own public exchanges.