Chris Gray

Window to Buy Health Insurance Closes at End of Friday

Consumers that have a 2017 plan that will not be offered in 2018 will be automatically moved to a different plan if they don’t actively select a new one, but if they don’t like that plan or still haven’t decided on the right one, they will be given a special enrollment period through February to pick.

Dec 13, 2017

Yes On Measure 101 Campaign Tries to Capture Grassroots Energy

Democrats hope to channel anger among left-leaning voters to support Obamacare at the ballot box while Republicans hope concerns over mismanagement at the Oregon Health Authority causes voters to reject a set of taxes on hospital claims and insurance premiums.

Dec 8, 2017

Thanksgiving Holiday Slows Insurance Enrollment for 2018

Consumers who have not qualified for critical health insurance subsidies to get an affordable plan may be able to get a subsidized plan if they sock money away in a health savings account or a traditional IRA.

Dec 1, 2017

Drug Companies Give to Brown While Cambia Backs Buehler

In the campaign for governor, Rep. Knute Buehler has outraised the sitting governor slightly for the year, reporting contributions of $2 million to Kate Brown’s $1.9 million. But she’s burnt through $1.2 million while he has limited expenses to $550,000.

Dec 1, 2017

Healthcare Industry Spends to Support Healthcare Taxes

The state’s leading unions and several top healthcare companies, including Legacy Health and PacificSource, are out-raising opponents of Measure 101.

Nov 29, 2017

Despite Hot Start in Insurance Enrollment, State Still Needs Big Numbers to Meet Targets

Oregon is outpacing other states, with nearly 43,000 signups on healthcare.gov, out of 2.3 million across the country. But to match last year, Oregon needs to double its enrollment by Dec. 15, while the nation must triple its own.

Nov 22, 2017

Oregon State Hospital Population Down, But Could Rise with Winter

The number of people sent to the state hospital pending criminal trials has declined from its alarming peak in 2016, but this population is still too high.

Nov 17, 2017

MS Drug Prices May Abate with Transparency After Eightfold Rise Since 1996

Amid outcries over exorbitant drug prices, the latest MS drug has been priced at $65,000 -- shy of the average of $78,000, but still several times higher than the $10,000 average in 1996. Drug manufacturers have hiked prices for other existing drugs even as new options have come on the market.

Nov 17, 2017
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Brown Orders State Health Officials To Keep Children’s Health Program Open

Oregon’s children won’t lose their health insurance because of Congressional incompetence -- at least this year, anyway.

Nov 15, 2017

Hayden Blasts Democrats for Planning to Cut Services to Disabled Kids

Cottage Grove Republican Rep. Cedric Hayden criticized the Democratic-led Legislature for funding a long list of pork barrel projects, singling out $1.5 million for Portland’s Japanese Garden, while demanding up to $10 million in cuts to services for people with disabilities.

Nov 15, 2017
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