Public Employees Benefit Board

OEBB Chairwoman Wants to Share a Director with PEBB

James Raussen, the director in charge of the teachers health plan washed out after just eight months amid allegations of ethical misconduct and offensive remarks to and about staff members. Nancy MacMorris-Adix, the chair of the Oregon Educators Benefit Board, would like to return to the old system where her organization shared an administrative director with the health plan for state employees.

The Oregon Educators Benefit Board chairwoman wants her organization to return to the days when it shared a director with the Public Employees Benefit Board, rather than search for a new OEBB-only leader, in the wake of the director’s departure this fall amid alleged ethical lapses.

By:

Chris Gray

OEBB, PEBB Prepare for New Administrator

The two boards have called a joint meeting next Tuesday to select a permanent administrator.

It’s been nearly 18 months since the two statewide health purchasing pools – better known as the Oregon Educators Benefit Board and the Public Employees Benefit Board – have had a permanent administrator, following the departure of Joan Kapowich in 2013.

By:

Diane Lund-Muzikant

Robust 2015-2017 Budget Counts on PEBB Savings, but not OEBB

Budget Chairmen Rep. Peter Buckley and Sen. Richard Devlin said they are ready to count on savings from the Public Employees Benefit Board, but not the Oregon Educators Benefit Board, which has not yet revamped its contract. Those savings are far from guaranteed.

The tentative framework for Oregon’s next budget, released Wednesday, hits a new high of $7.24 billion for primary education -- a budget made possible by projected healthcare savings for public employees, with their health plans shifting toward a coordinated care model.

By:

Chris Gray

Senate Health Committee Approves Treatment for Autistic Children

Private insurers and public health plans will be required to cover applied behavior analysis after a deal is reached between autism advocates, insurers and Sen. Alan Bates, a Medford physician.

April 19, 2013 — A landmark bill regarding autism passed the Senate Health Committee unanimously Thursday, paving the way for insurance coverage of a specialized treatment that supporters say will help severely handicapped autistic children live more functional lives.

By:

Christopher David Gray

House Committee Votes to Require Insurers to Pay for Court-Ordered Treatment

Regence BlueCross BlueShield opposes the provision, arguing to keep current law where private insurers have the option to deny claims for alcohol or drug treatment if it’s a result of a DUII or other conviction

March 29, 2013 — People with drug and alcohol addictions who end up in treatment as a result of a DUII will get their treatment picked up by insurance if a bill sponsored by Rep. Phil Barnhart, D-Eugene, becomes law.

By:

Christopher David Gray

Public Employees’ Benefit Board Plans For Big Budget Hole

Worst-case scenario is “wholesale slaughter,” says board member Diane Lovell

March 28, 2011--The Public Employees’ Benefit Board (PEBB) agreed last week to implement benefit cuts and surcharges to its members that will help it close a looming budget gap somewhere between $20.5 million and $104.5 million.

By:

Rebecca Robinson

PEBB Prioritizes Potential Plan Cuts

But size of the board’s 2012 budget hole remains a mystery

March 16, 2011--The Public Employees’ Benefit Board, facing a gaping budget hole next year whose size is still unknown, has devised a draft priority list of potential cost-saving changes to health benefits for state workers.

By:

Rebecca Robinson