Chris Gray

Devlin: Oregon Would Forfeit Federal Money if Tax Referendum Held

The Republicans fighting the tax appear to have bungled their way toward the ballot, as the top legislative attorney believes that the 0.7% tax on hospitals will be collected in 2018 and 2019 regardless of an election. A successful referendum would repeal the hospital tax just for 87 days in 2017 as well as the 1.5% insurance tax.

Sep 6, 2017

Allen Starts at OHA, Bringing Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali Robison to Help

The Oregon Health Authority begins the Labor Day weekend with a changing of the guard as Lynne Saxton, Mark Fairbanks, Dr. Varsha Chauhan and BethAnne Darby leave while a new team from the Department of Consumer & Business Services takes over, along with Gov. Brown’s top health advisor, Jeremy Vandehey.

Sep 1, 2017

Oregon Expects to Net $30 Million a Year in Federal Money for Reinsurance

A waiver would pass federal savings back to the state to help fund the reinsurance program and save consumers $25 a month in the individual market. But the program is in doubt because of a Republican backlash to a $5 a month tax on group health insurance premiums.

Aug 30, 2017

Rep. Parrish Busies Her Summer Break Gathering Petitions Against Taxes

As the state government implements HB 2391 and designs programs to stabilize health insurance rates, the Republican firebrand from the south Portland suburbs is hoping to get 59,000 signatures to allow voters a chance to sign off on the funding package for Medicaid and market stabilization.

Aug 30, 2017

Providence Fined $100,000 for 2012 Violations Relating to Autism Treatment

The civil penalty may be the final chapter in the Catholic health insurer’s losing war against providing applied behavior analysis treatment for children with autism.

Aug 25, 2017

Oregon Schools Leaving Millions in Federal Medicaid Dollars on the Table

A pilot project will help nine schools apply for federal funding to cover the healthcare costs of children in special education. Other states have used this funding stream to put a nurse in every school, and even small states like Montana bring in many times more money than Oregon.

Aug 23, 2017

Healthcare Leaders Praise Choice of Allen to Command Troubled OHA

Pat Allen, the leader of the Department of Consumer & Business Services, was called Wednesday to put out fires at the Oregon Health Authority after Lynne Saxton resigned amid a communications scandal.

Aug 18, 2017

New PEBB Wellness Manager Expected to Analyze Myriad of Programs

Gov. Kate Brown recently ordered the Public Employees Benefit Board to hire a wellness manager. At the insistence of Sen. Betsy Johnson, the board opted to delay the expansion of one wellness program until the new hire has a chance to comprehensively determine which programs best improve health.

Aug 16, 2017

State Regulators Persuade Moda to Sell Exchange Plans in Lane County

The Eugene area and Tillamook County will now have a choice between Providence and Moda on healthcare.gov, after Moda Health initially declined to sell plans on the exchange. Most consumers will have three or more options in Oregon in 2018, but not most counties, as rural areas will typically have just two choices. Douglas and Lincoln counties will have only Providence.

Aug 8, 2017

Schrader, House Moderates Craft Bipartisan Obamacare Fixes

A draft of the deal released this week would scrap the medical device tax and the employer mandate for businesses with fewer than 500 workers. At the same time, it supports re-establishing up to $15 billion a year for reinsurance to help carriers with the costliest patients, and would guarantee cost-sharing assistance for working-class adults.

Aug 3, 2017