Critical
Health Issues for States
A Reforming Governor's Perspective
Featured
Article
National
Conference of State Legislatures. Governor's Goal: Extending the Reach
of the Oregon Health Plan. State Health Notes. National Conference of
State Legislatures. 2001 October 22; 22(358): 1, 5-6.
In February 1994, Oregon enacted the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and extended
Medicaid eligibility to all residents with incomes below 170 percent
of the federal poverty level. The state fought for and won federal approval
to prioritize the medical services covered under Medicaid. The OHP directed
the subsequent savings to pay for care of low-income uninsured residents.
Now, Oregon is moving forward with more reforms that will expand Medicaid
eligibility to 185 percent of the federal poverty level, which will
cover 50,000 more uninsured residents. Under a new law passed in August,
the OHP will be divided into two parts: OHP-Plus for categorical Medicaid
beneficiaries and OHP-Standard for those people who have gained coverage
under the OHP waivers. In addition, the state will seek federal matching
funds for the Family Health Insurance Assistance Program (FHIAP), which
currently uses state funds to help cover working poor residents and
their families. These reforms will require Oregon to obtain another
federal waiver. OHP-Standard's benefits are less generous than the Plus
program, so Oregon must devise cost-sharing strategies and assemble
a new prioritized list of benefits to enable maximum coverage for the
maximum number of beneficiaries. Critics of the new reforms point out
that the OHP has been driving providers away, leaving few to absorb
the losses. Moreover, Oregon is facing a fiscal crisis because general
fund revenues are $300 million less than expected.
Other
Articles
Eggen
D, Connolly C. Ashcroft Ruling Blocks Ore. Assisted-Suicide Law. The
Washington Post. 2001 November 7: A1.
This news report details U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's enactment
of a new drug-enforcement policy that blocks Oregon's assisted-suicide
law.
Green,
AS. State Challenges Ashcroft. Portland Oregonian. 2001 November 8.
This article recounts Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers' move to prevent
the federal government from stopping the state's physician-assisted
suicide law.
Kitzhaber
J. Resuscitating the Oregon Health Plan. Speech given at the Foundation
for Medical Excellence. 2000 February 25. Available at www.governor.state.or.us.
Governor Kitzhaber's speech at the Foundation for Medical Excellence
looks back at the Oregon Health plan after 10 years of innovation and
controversy. Kitzhaber explains Oregon's original goals of explicitly
prioritizing health care benefits in order to increase legislative accountability
and independence from federal regulations. Kitzhaber details the problems
encountered with the traditional market competition model, which have
pushed risk towards large providers in poor areas. He also remarks upon
the difficulties his state has had with the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services. Governor Kitzhaber proposes several measures to solve
this program from within Oregon's communities and by challenging federal
Medicaid policy.
State of Oregon, Governor's Office. The Oregon Health Plan. Governor's
Home Page. November 11, 2001. Available at www.governor.state.or.us.
This summary of the Oregon Health Plan provides a general description
and brief outline of its conception by then-Senate President John Kitzhaber,
the government programs included in the Plan, and its results.
State
of Oregon, Governor's Office. Health, Human Services and Labor Newsletter.
Summer 2001. Available at www.governor.state.or.us.
This newsletter details the successes in health and human services of
the 71st session of Oregon's Legislative Assembly. The legislature established
the Oregon Formulary as a means to reduce soaring prescription drug
costs. Also passed, the Oregon Health Plan waiver directs the Department
of Human Services to submit a waiver to the federal government to establish
a new Oregon Health Plan benefit package for certain eligible clients
up to 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
For
Further Reference
State
of Oregon, Governor's Office. Governor Announces Prescription Drug Plan
Endorsements. Oregon Governor's Office Press Releases. April 25, 2001.
Available at www.governor.state.or.us.
State
of Oregon, Governor's Office. Governor Signs Practitioner-Managed Prescription
Drug Plan and Oregon Health Plan Waiver Legislation. Oregon Governor's
Office Press Releases. August 2, 2001. Available at www.governor.state.or.us.
State
of Oregon, Department of Justice. Attorney General Hardy Myers to Take
Legal Action to Protect Oregon's Physician-Assisted Suicide Law. State
of Oregon, Department of Justice Press Release. November 6, 2001. Available
at www.doj.state.or.us.
United
States House of Representatives. Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, M.D.
speaking on H.R. 4006 to the Committee on the Judiciary. July 14, 1998.
Available at www.house.gov/judiciary/222479.htm.
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