Oregon is committed to helping Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members helping maintain coverage. Continuous enrollment policies during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) have allowed more people to maintain coverage, and Oregon has been working on several policies to ensure continuous enrollment once the PHE ends.
Provisions under House Bill 4035 (2022)
Legislative Reports
Creating a “Bridge Program”
House Bill (HB) 4035 requires Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to create a new “bridge program.” The program would provide an affordable, comprehensive source of health coverage to adults in Oregon with income between 138 and 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Implementing this program will prevent coverage loss among some people who would otherwise lose OHP during the unwinding of the federal Public Health Emergency. It will also improve coverage continuity by reducing instances of "churn" due to small and/or temporary income gains among OHP members.
About the Joint Task Force on the Bridge Health Care Program
HB 4035 directs OHA to work with the Legislative Policy and Research Office (LPRO) to convene a Task Force to inform development of this program. Oregon will seek Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approval before implementation of the program.
Click here for membership details, upcoming meeting dates and times, and links to meeting recordings.
SUD 1115 Waiver Bridge to the Bridge Amendment - Application and Public Comment
OHA developed the draft application with proposals for changes to OHP as part of the PHE ending. The public is invited to submit written and verbal comments on the draft application from Aug. 1, 2022, through Sept. 7, 2022.
PLEASE NOTE: The 90-day review period has officially begun as of November 15.
Oregon SUD 1115 Amendment Application and Notice
CMS Approval
Oregon received CMS approval of the 1115 Waiver Bridge to the Bridge Amendment on April 20, 2023. Please find the formal approval below.
CMS Approval for the Oregon 1115 Amendment
Section 1331 Basic Health Program Blueprint - Application and Public Comment
The public comment period for the Section 1331 Basic Health Program has been extended, and will now end July 1, 2023.
OHA has developed a draft
Basic Health Program Blueprint. The blueprint proposes to establish a new program that will provide comprehensive, no-cost coverage to adults in Oregon with income between 138 and 200 percent of the FPL.
The public is invited to submit written and verbal comments on the draft application from May 1, 2023, through July 1, 2023.
Meeting Information and Resources
Date
| Purpose | Materials
|
|---|
May 31, 2023
9 a.m. to noon
| Section 1331 Basic Health Program Blueprint Public Hearing (Medicaid Advisory Committee) Join this meeting to learn more about the draft blueprint and provide your input. |
Public Notice
Draft Blueprint
Slide Deck
Video of meeting
|
May 9, 2023
1 to 2 p.m.
| Section 1331 Basic Health Program Blueprint Public Hearing (Standalone Meeting) Join this meeting to learn more about the draft blueprint and provide your input |
Public Notice
Draft Blueprint
|
Aug. 31, 2022
9 a.m. to noon
| SUD 1115 Waiver Bridge to the Bridge Amendment Public Hearing (Medicaid Advisory Committee) Join this meeting to learn more about the draft amendment and provide your input.
|
Public Notice
Draft Application
Slide Deck
Video of Meeting
|
Aug. 24, 2022
10 to 11 a.m.
| SUD 1115 Waiver Bridge to the Bridge Amendment Public Hearing (Standalone Meeting) Join this meeting to learn more about the draft amendment and provide your input
| |
July 21, 2022
5 to 7 p.m.
| Hear from consumers, particularly individuals who have experienced churn between coverage provided by OHP and other health insurance or no insurance based on changes in income. Questions of specific interest to the Task Force and registration details will be provided at least a week in advance of the meeting.
|
Listening Session - English
Listening Session - Spanish
|
Outreach and Communication Strategies with Community Partners
About the Community and Partner Workgroup
As established in HB 4035, the Community and Partner Workgroup (CPWG) advises OHA, Oregon Department of Human Services and Department of Consumer and Business Services on the development of outreach and enrollment assistance and communications strategies to communicate and assist medical assistance program members in navigating the redetermination process and any transitions to coverage through the health insurance exchange. This work has the dual goals of:
- Maintaining the most individuals covered possible so that benefits are not lost, and
- Ensuring additional protective measures for identified vulnerable populations, priority populations, and populations and individuals facing health inequities during this transition and process.
Read the charter here
Read the final recommendations here