Rep. Brian Clem

Dealmaking Clem Forges Compromise on Marijuana Dispensaries

Rep. Brian Clem’s version of Senate Bill 1531 would allow local governments to put a one-year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries, which gained state sanctioning on Monday. The bill had stalled after the House and Senate Democrats could not agree on whether cities and counties could prohibit the dispensaries in their communities.

Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, has put forward a compromise that will clear the way for local municipalities to bar medical marijuana dispensaries from their domains for a year while they prepare to develop policies to regulate incoming outlets. The dispensaries gained state sanctioning last year through House Bill 3460.

By: 
Christopher David Gray

Health Committee Approves Basic Health Plan Study on First Day of Session

House Bill 4109 would cost an estimated $60,000 and task the Oregon Health Authority with studying the concept of a state-run health plan for working-class Oregonians who don’t qualify for Medicaid. It is opposed by Rep. Jason Conger, who didn’t want to restrict options.

The drive toward a Basic Health Plan for working-class Oregonians leaped over its first hurdle, as House Bill 4109 passed out of the House Health Committee 7-1 on the first day of the 2014 session.

By: 
Christopher David Gray

Goldberg Cites Progress in Fixing Cover Oregon as Republicans Increase Cries to Pull Plug

Rep. Jason Conger, R-Bend, calls for state to shut down Cover Oregon and offer subsidies for consumers outside the exchange, but director Bruce Goldberg said many of the errors that have kept the website down were eliminated in the past week.

Acting Cover Oregon Director Dr. Bruce Goldberg hinted to the House Health Committee on Wednesday that Cover Oregon could go completely online by February, even as Rep. Jason Conger of Bend, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, told the director that the state should shut the whole exchange down.

By: 
Christopher David Gray

Salem Reps File ‘Bad Actor Bill’ to Force End to Salem Health Lawsuit

HB 3309 would allow the Oregon Health Authority director to kick off a CCO member and lower its compensation. Rep. Brian Clem said he filed the bill to end a court battle in his district that threatens the entire CCO model.

May 3, 2013 — The Legislature could soon be wading into the ugly dispute between Salem Health and its coordinated care organization, Williamette Valley Community Health.

By: 
Christopher David Gray

Greenlick Wants Public Comment Period, but CCOs Resist

The chair of the House Health Committee has proposed a compromise version of earlier legislation that would have subjected coordinated care organizations to the public meetings law. HB 2960 would require private board meetings to have a public comment period and open advisory councils to public.

 

April 16, 2013 — Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, has put forth a compromise bill that would ensure greater public scrutiny of coordinated care organizations without putting them under Oregon’s public meetings law.

By: 
Christopher David Gray

Oregon House Votes to Include Insurers in Consumer Fraud Act

Sen. Chip Shields told The Lund Report he expects the Senate to pass the measure, which would remove the unique exception insurance companies such as Regence BlueCross BlueShield have from the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

 

April 3, 2013 — Seven years ago, Regence BlueCross BlueShield blithely declared that Azusa Suzuki was dead and refused to honor a supplemental insurance claim after she was injured in a car accident.

By: 
Christopher David Gray
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