July 2, 2013 — Governor Kitzhaber today released the following statement as the Oregon House passed House Bill 5030, setting the budget for the Oregon Health Authority for the 2013-2015 biennium.
“I commend the House for passing a health budget that keeps Oregon’s promise to control growth in public health care costs while improving the quality of care people receive. The OHA budget reduces per capital spending for the Oregon Health Plan by two percentage points. Further, it supports a more coordinated approach to health care – one that promotes prevention, reduces waste and inefficiency, and is sustainable into the future. The budget also reflects Oregon’s commitment to funding mental health services, especially for children, as a critical part of Oregonians' health.
This budget opens the Oregon Health Plan to low-income Oregonians in 2014, ending the health care lottery that created health care winners and losers. Combined with the coming launch of Cover Oregon, the state’s health insurance exchange, this means we are on our way to 95 percent of Oregonians having coverage, increasing their economic security and reducing medical debt, which is good for the whole state.”
July 2, 2013
