Chris Gray

Schrader Marks Veterans Day with Listening Tour for Healthcare, Other Services

Reforms have allowed those who have trouble accessing healthcare to seek care outside the Veterans Administration system, but Schrader still supports building capacity within the VA’s outpatient clinics, which have benefits such as lower prescription drug costs.

Nov 10, 2017

COFA Islanders Rush to Enroll, but Face Obstacles in Special Insurance Program

A tight deadline has insurance brokers working overtime to help a group of Pacific Islanders to get insurance, but a rule requiring them to pay deductibles upfront has some members facing collection agencies.

Nov 8, 2017

Partial Multnomah County Wood-Burning Ban Pitched to Improve Air Quality

People who burn wood on winter inversion days but have an alternate source of heating could be fined under a proposed Multnomah County ordinance.

Nov 3, 2017

Six-Week Open Enrollment for Obamacare Plans Begins

Most consumers will want to pick a plan that aligns with their physician rather than focus on cost. People purchasing subsidized health insurance on healthcare.gov will not see significant increases in cost, but Obamacare is increasingly gouging middle-class consumers who don’t qualify.

Nov 1, 2017

New Cover Oregon Error May Put State on Hook for $74 Million in Overpayments

An examination of records by the new leadership at the Oregon Health Authority discovered that an error in the Cover Oregon process caused the state to categorize older, Medicare-eligible adults in the Medicaid expansion.

Nov 1, 2017

Children’s Health Insurance Planned for House Vote

Rep. Kurt Schrader said Democrats object to how funding for healthcare delivery reforms are being diverted to backfill the program. Rep. Greg Walden supports raising Medicare premiums for wealthy seniors and blamed Democrats for not offering a counter-proposal.

Oct 27, 2017

Defeat of Medicaid Referendum Could Set Back Progress on Health Reform

Republican Rep. Cedric Hayden continues to insist that a No vote on Measure 101 will force Democrats to close the door to using healthcare dollars for non-healthcare purposes, as well as adopt funding mechanisms that he prefers.

Oct 27, 2017
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Supreme Court Orders Cleaner Ballot Title for Measure 101 Healthcare Tax

The court rejected language from Democrats that the bulk of the hospital assessment could go ahead regardless of the outcome of the Jan. 23 election.

Oct 25, 2017

Oregon Plans to Backfill Trump Advertising Cuts for Insurance Enrollment

The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace will run TV ads for the first time since the Cover Oregon days to offset severe cuts from the federal government. A Senate fix is in the offing, but conservatives and the temperamental president may balk.

Oct 20, 2017

PEBB Raises State Employee Costs for Out-of-Network Hospitals

Meanwhile, the board voted to scale back increases for other non-contracted providers rather than shift cost for these services to state workers. After meeting tight budget restraints for several years, PEBB saw costs soar in 2016 to 7 percent.

Oct 17, 2017