Amanda Waldroupe

PacificSource Chosen by Workgroup for Essential Health Benefits Package

June 25, 2012— A 19-member, governor-appointed workgroup made up largely of hospital and insurance representatives has selected PacificSource’s small group plan as the state’s essential health benefits package.Governor Kitzhaber must either accept the recommendation, or ask that a different plan be chosen by September 30. Otherwise, the federal government will make that decision.

Jun 27, 2012

Oregon’s Waiver to CMS Nears Completion

June 19, 2012—The Oregon Health Authority is nearing the end of countless hours of negotiations with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to finalize a waiver that will allow the state to legally move forward with reforming the Oregon Health Plan.

Jun 19, 2012

Insurance Exchange’s Small Employer Program Takes Shape

June 19, 2012—The program and technological infrastructure allowing small employers to purchase health insurance through Oregon’s exchange is beginning to take shape. Making the process easy for employers and reducing administrative burden will be key to its success, according to its staff.

Jun 18, 2012

Communication to Oregon Health Plan Patients Increases As Reform Nears

June 7, 2012—Communication to Oregon Health Plan patients about what the monumental changes to the Oregon Health Plan’s delivery system means to them is beginning in earnest as the August 1 start date for 11 organizations likely to become coordinated care organizations throughout Oregon nears.

Jun 7, 2012

One Out-of-State Organization Questions Becoming a Coordinated Care Organization

June 7, 2012—Many were shocked when two large, publicly traded companies sent letters of intent to the Oregon Health Authority expressing their intention to apply to become a coordinated care organization. Now it’s not clear if they, or a third out-of-state organization, will even apply.

Jun 7, 2012

Public Health Division Looks to Improve Breastfeeding Rates

June 1, 2012— Although 90 percent of Oregon women start out breastfeeding their newly born infants, only 21 percent continue breastfeeding until their infant is six months old. Oregon’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program hopes to get that number higher with the help of additional dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jun 1, 2012

New Portland Parks Program Offers Kids An Interactive Way to Experience Gardening, Cooking, and Food

June 1, 2012—Portland’s Parks and Recreation bureau has started a new pilot program at two North Portland community centers focused on providing interactive activities for kids to learn more about healthy eating.

Jun 1, 2012

Dental Organizations Interested in Reform Take Their Case to the Legislature

May 24, 2012—Dental care organizations serving Oregon Health Plan patients are still publicly concerned about their attempts to become part of the newly forming coordinated care organizations – and made a presentation to the Senate’s health committee during a three-dayinterim session on Monday.

May 24, 2012

Whooping Cough Epidemic Could Lead to More Vaccinations in Clark County

May 17, 2012—Clark County, and the rest of Washington, is experiencing the worst whooping cough epidemic in 70 years, and health officials are using the increased public attention being paid to the upper respiratory infection to increase the immunization rate, both among adults and children.

May 17, 2012

First Environmental Health Assessment of the Black Butte Mine Published

May 14, 2012—Residents of Cottage Grove and the surrounding area have long known that the abandoned Black Butte Mine poses dangers, but the first environmental health assessment of the mine provides concrete information.

May 14, 2012