House Bill 2009 and Senate Bills 451-457
The Time for Health Reform is Now!
Now is the time for the 2009 Oregon Legislature to enact the Health Fund Board recommendations as the essential first steps for achieving quality, affordable, accessible health care for all Oregonians:
- provide health care for more Oregonians
- rein in skyrocketing health care costs
- provide better health outcomes
The timeline of getting substantive health reform passed by April 22 is still on track.
Health Reform Adds Jobs to Oregon’s Economy
- Leverage $1 billion federal dollars through a restructured provider tax
- Create 6,180 jobs for every $500 million Oregon receives in federal matching funds, according to economic impact analysis estimates
- Cover 80,000 children and 100,000 low income Oregonians
- Provide more cost effective health care for all of us
Oregonians Can’t Wait Anymore
Too many Oregonians don’t have access to quality, affordable health care. Especially now, when many Oregonians have lost their jobs, being able to ensure that every Oregon child has access to health care is a glimmer of hope in these uncertain economic times.
Time for Solutions
The Oregon Health Fund Board spent the last two years working with Oregonians from across the state, both experts and consumers of health care – listening, identifying the problems, exploring solutions, and coming up with a set of comprehensive recommendations.
Legislators have a concrete plan before them in HB2009 and Senate Bills 451-457 including:
- establishing the Health Authority
- laying the groundwork for the Insurance Exchange and begin planning for a public option
- defining the essential benefits that all Oregonians should expect to receive
- increasing transparency in hospital prices
- establishing criteria for insurance rate increases
- developing a plan for secure electronic health records for all Oregonians
- focusing on prevention and disease management and improving the quality of patient care
- beginning to create affordable insurance options for small businesses and individuals
We need to implement the Oregon Health Fund Board recommendations.
Accountability through the Health Authority
Without a Health Authority to ensure public accountability the health reform legislation this legislature will pass could be at risk in the future. We urge the Legislature not to take that risk with the health of Oregonians by passing a Health Authority that will protect Oregonians now and in the future.
Now is the time for the 2009 Oregon Legislature to enact the Health Fund Board recommendations and lay the foundation of health care reform in Oregon.
