Chris Gray

Drug Companies Back Again to Protect Patents for Biologics and Insulin

SB 147, as heard by the Senate Health Committee, would lift an expiration date on a law that restricts pharmacists’ ability to prescribe biosimilars, or generic alternatives to complex biological drugs. The bill also expands that law to include insulin. California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a very similar law, citing increased costs to state-purchased health plans.

Mar 6, 2015

House Passes Bill Requiring ERs to Document Forced Seclusion of Mental Patients

HB 2363 puts Oregon Health Authority administrative rules into statute in an effort to minimize the use of non-therapeutic isolation of patients who come to emergency rooms during a mental breakdown but are locked in a room while receiving minimal treatment. Some Republicans objected to micro-managing the administrative process with a new law.

Mar 6, 2015

Oregon Moves Towards Opening Telemedicine to People’s Homes

SB 144 requires health insurance companies to pay for medical and mental health visits provided by two-way video chat, regardless of setting. Supporters of the bill, including Providence and ZoomCare, were able to thwart a last-ditch effort by Regence and Health Net to delay the law; if passed, it takes effect in January.

Mar 5, 2015

Keny-Guyer Hoping Fourth Time a Charm for Toxic-Free Kids Act

The proposed Oregon law would copy a Washington law on disclosure but then strengthen it to phase out hazardous chemicals in children’s products and replace them with safer alternatives. SB 478 maintains bipartisan support in the House and the increased Democratic majority should allow the bill to over-rule Sen. Betsy Johnson, a friend of the chemistry council who opposes the bill.

Mar 3, 2015

Health Co-Op Wants More Transparency from Insurance Division

Oregon’s Health Co-Op, which has struggled to get a foothold in the Oregon insurance market, has proposed legislation to provide insurers a better appeal process while requiring the Insurance Division to better explain its rate-setting decisions for plans sold on the individual and small business markets.

Mar 3, 2015

Bill Dissolving Cover Oregon Heads to Governor, Over Oracle Complaints

Oracle, the much-maligned software company that failed to build a functional insurance exchange for Oregon, has threatened to stop Senate Bill 1 from taking effect, but the bill had broad bipartisan support in the House to move the remaining state insurance exchange functions to the Department of Consumer & Business Services.

Mar 2, 2015

Sen. Shields Want to Strip CCOs of Special Anti-Trust Exemption

In the Portland Democrat’s latest attempt to bring daylight into the murky operations of the state’s Medicaid health plans and providers, Shields has introduced Senate Bill 18, which eliminates their protection against charges of collusion. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling likely means the exemption is unconstitutional anyway and without legal grounds.

Feb 27, 2015

Smooth Passage Expected for Four-Year, $1.4 Billion Hospital Tax

The hospital assessment tax, used to leverage federal funding for the Oregon Health Plan, was first proposed in 2003 and has been renewed multiple times, often with heated debate. But this time, Republicans are signaling they’re on board for the new assessment.

Feb 26, 2015

Senate Democrats Vote to Boost Injury Protection from Auto Insurance

Given a new supermajority by voters, Senate Democrats continue to check off legislation that passed the more liberal House in 2013 but died in the Senate. SB 411 brings Oregon more in line with other states and allows injured people to use money from both parties’ auto insurance policies in case of an accident, but it will likely raise premiums slightly.

Feb 26, 2015

Basic Rights Oregon Wants Ban on Bogus Conversion Therapies for Minors Ariel West Tue, 02/24/2015 - 09:48

• Read more about Basic Rights Oregon Wants Ban on Bogus Conversion Therapies for Minors
• Log in or register to post comments