U.S. House Health Reform Vote - March 21, 2010

• After implementation of all health reform changes, more than 90% of Oregonians will have health care coverage thanks to a combination of the federal legislation and the Oregon Healthy Kids program.
   
  
• Oregon can move even faster on the reforms started in House Bill 2009.
   
  
• Oregon will have federal financial support for the reforms in House Bill 2009.

Background: how the federal reform intersects with the work Oregon has already been doing

Oregon has already been working on health reform.
House Bill 2009, which created the Oregon Health Authority, means that Oregon has been laying the groundwork since last July to implement federal reforms as soon as possible and make additional improvements. The federal legislation will help support the reforms already under way.

While details of the bill are still being analyzed, here are some of the ways the federal health reform legislation accelerates and complements the reforms of the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Health Policy Board.

Making health care more affordable and available to everyone through an insurance exchange.
Like House Bill 2009, the federal legislation creates an exchange that allows people and small businesses who don't have group care to shop and compare prices and policies. Just like Oregon's Healthy Kids Plan, an affordable option will be available to adults.

Cover low-income uninsured.
Additionally, the federal legislation helps us fulfill the promise of the Oregon Health Plan to expand coverage to low-income working families and make it more feasible to achieve our goal of affordable health care for all by 2015. The legislation will bring $5 billion in new Medicaid funds to Oregon over the next 10 years.

No more barriers to health care coverage.
Today health insurance companies can keep people out who have pre-existing conditions. Oregon's high-risk health insurance pool provides coverage for people who have been blocked from other health care plans is already up and running. This pool will provide a bridge to 2014 when the legislation prohibits private insurance carriers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

Improved care for everyone.
Thanks to the work already started on everything from electronic health records to establishing quality standards for health care providers and hospitals, the Oregon Health Authority is well-positioned to be a national leader in these elements contained in the federal legislation.

Federal consumer protections complement state-level reforms.
In Oregon, as in all states, consumers will benefit from insurance reforms that will take effect within the next six months — to eliminate lifetime limits on benefits, prohibit insurers from rescinding coverage for those already enrolled in a plan and allow unmarried children to remain on their parents' plans until age 26. And in Oregon, the Insurance Division now requires health insurance companies to report administrative costs, executive salaries and other information so Oregonians know how their dollars are being spent.

Lowering costs with federal partnership.
As we improve care, expand coverage and reform the insurance system, we will make progress in reducing the health care "cost curve" over time. States will compete to adopt better and more affordable ways to deliver care. Investments in public health and wellness will be encouraged. And, unlike previous federal programs, the new legislation will reward us — not penalize us — for the cost controls we have already put in place and those we have on the drawing board.

The federal legislation helps Oregon jump ahead.
Under House Bill 2009, a fast deadline was created. OHA and the Board must deliver a comprehensive blueprint that will ensure coverage for all Oregonians by 2015. With the Senate's support and the President's signature, this legislation will accelerate and expand the reforms now being advanced in communities throughout the country. States like Oregon can look forward to an exciting period of innovation in our health care system and a healthier future for our people.

More information to come.
In the weeks and months ahead the Oregon Health Authority and Board will provide more information on the impact of the federal legislation on Oregon as well as monthly updates on how OHA and the Board are moving forward to improve health, lower costs, and improve access, quality and reliability of care.

For more information, see the Federal Health Reform Implementation - Year by Year Timeline: www.oregon.gov/OHA/docs/fed-health-reform-implement.pdf