Legislative Session Wrapup
By Emily Katz, Public Policy Manager

As a Medicaid managed care organization, CareOregon had a successful legislative session this year.  From January to the end of June, CareOregon was involved in daily policy development and political engagement to ensure that CareOregon can continue its mission to serve Oregon's most vulnerable populations. Below are some of the health care highlights accomplished during the 74th Legislative assembly:

To raise awareness about and advocate for thousands of families touched by the Oregon Health Plan, CareOregon staff displayed photographs of members taken by renowned photographer Bruce Davidson in the state capitol. Pictured are staff members Ian Youngstrom, Information Services Technical Assistant; Pamela Mariea Nason, Public Policy and Community Affairs Director; and David Lima, Member Services Supervisor. Photo by Eleanor Gorman

Health Care Reform. A seven-member Board has been established to recommend ways to provide universal health coverage to all Oregonians by 2009.  CareOregon was instrumental in helping develop the framework for this legislation, and helped to ensure that managed care organizations like CareOregon will be part of the “new system.”

Healthy Kids Plan. While we were very disappointed that lawmakers were unable to pass this during the session, they did send it out as a referral, meaning that it will appear on the ballot in the November election.

If passed by voters, the tobacco tax would increase by $.84/pack, bringing our total cigarette tax equal to Washington State, at $2.02 per pack. The revenue raised would go to cover uninsured kids up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level ($59,000 max for a family of four) and re-open OHP Standard for 10,000 to 15,000 additional members. This would mean that more Oregonians would be funded to receive much needed care. CareOregon would see our membership increase as a result of that ballot measure passing. We are taking a leadership role in the measure, and will be providing you more updates as the campaign continues. 

One thing you can do right now is make sure you can participate!  If you are an Oregon resident and are not registered to vote but would like to be, follow this link: http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/vreg.htm

TANF Redesign. New federal regulations required more members receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) to meet strict work requirements.  As a result of this, CareOregon worked hard to secure Transitional Medical benefits for members, so that TANF recipients who find work quickly can retain OHP benefits for an additional time period. Without this legislation, people who returned to work in low wage jobs without benefits quickly lost their health care coverage.     

Overall, it has been a great session, but there is more work to do.  We look forward to engaging in the discussions around health care reform as the new Board develops recommendations, and helping make the Healthy Kids plan a success.  Your hard work making sure our members get the care they need makes it possible for CareOregon to continue to be successful in influencing public policy outcomes!

The entire staff at CareOregon and all of our providers deserve a big “Thank you” for helping us have such a successful year.