[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6621365,"mediaKeyId","2802759-cb735c2f0e6ed97895da8dd529ec6480","parentId",2802759,"title","Votes at a glance: committee advances several health-related bills, adopts amendments and refers measures to Ways and Means","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",2782820,"endMs",2929520,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2802759-cb735c2f0e6ed97895da8dd529ec6480&start=2782&end=2929","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2802759-cb735c2f0e6ed97895da8dd529ec6480/thumbnail_2782820.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6621365/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-advances-several-health-related-bills-adopts-amendments-and-refers-measures-to-Ways-and-Means","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621365-b4187d039a2a65e18fc5d5a4c0be9e96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771218451&Signature=UZR-UyK1AxurcvyDRq5yN3tid-zfNSjGv4yVjLIqOw5fAtVrBF6Rta2ExqNgHA6MGTcJ35817zBc-nzkQI7Co76hQMSVdwQh5ZIj1PxtOsQ~qGKQb7zhTF2oaa9-owben2yqmU7L7fOh2gYj06H9tL5-mhBla9aarxg83-QBquHYqrruwwhxPxSdH19Yp5scXAzVyI9eQP5r4k3D~MpyfJ7lAkrAeXhB0V97JB-MkrdptXUC5kHuZuqiMjAU0A5OUHPbU7o-nPPghs2d88eT~6gBccjFC7AwiCXaSPejDo5tjGZpNBHrwEXlqxCmSI-pDhVOgyBQ0r3d6BUoup4VMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Health Care took a series of formal actions in work sessions on March 27, adopting amendments and advancing bills to the floor or requesting fiscal referral. Key outcomes below reflect motions and roll-call votes recorded in the committee transcript.

- Senate Bill 293 (Department of Corrections medical care) — The committee adopted the posted -1 amendment, which replaces the base placeholder language with substantive requirements: DOC must provide medical care to adults in custody with preexisting conditions, may not consider remaining time in custody when determining care, must document reasons for denied or refused care, and must provide access to prescriptions listed on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services formulary as of June 1, 2025. Vote on amendment adoption: Aye — Senator Campos, Senator Reynolds, Vice Chair Hayden, Chair Patterson; No — Senator Luthicombe. The committee then moved SB 293 as amended to the Senate floor with a “do pass” recommendation and requested referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

- Senate Bill 295 (pharmacist test-and-treat for COVID-19) — The committee adopted the -1 amendment to remove the sunset on an earlier authority allowing pharmacists to test and provide treatment for COVID-19, preserving that test-and-treat authority beyond the prior sunset date. The amendment passed by recorded vote (ayes recorded). The committee then moved SB 295 as amended to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation.

- Senate Bill 597 (school dental sealant program care coordination) — The committee moved SB 597 (intro version) to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation and requested referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.

- Senate Bill 846 (OHA monitoring of coordinated care organizations for children) — The committee adopted the posted -1 amendment requiring the Oregon Health Authority to work with communities and report findings to the Legislative Assembly on improving access to care for children served by CCOs. The amendment was adopted on a recorded vote and the committee voted to send SB 846 as amended to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.

- Senate Bill 476 (provisional licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians) — The committee adopted the posted -2 amendment, which narrowed earlier broader language and created a provisional license pathway for internationally trained physicians to practice under supervision in specified clinical settings for up to four years, with reporting requirements for the Oregon Medical Board. The committee moved SB 476 as amended to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and requested referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Several of the motions carried with roll-call votes recorded on the record. The transcript also notes fiscal analyses were posted for some measures and that the Legislative Fiscal Office requested referral to Ways and Means on bills with fiscal impacts.

Ending: The committee advanced multiple measures for further consideration by the full Senate or for fiscal review; several bills were forwarded with requests to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for additional fiscal analysis.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Health Care 03/27/2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","During work sessions March 27, the Senate Committee on Health Care adopted amendments and advanced several bills to the Senate floor or to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means; votes and motions were recorded for multiple bills.","taxTitle","Health Care, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17872,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621372,"Senator pitches annual Medigap open enrollment; insurers warn higher premiums and market disruption",1824,2074505,3898580,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2802759-cb735c2f0e6ed97895da8dd529ec6480&start=2074&end=3898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2802759-cb735c2f0e6ed97895da8dd529ec6480/thumbnail_2074505.jpg","/articles/6621372/Oregon/Senator-pitches-annual-Medigap-open-enrollment-insurers-warn-higher-premiums-and-market-disruption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621372-de91fdacc8c2b6169b5e6a35745d979f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771218451&Signature=fZzj-LxiNEz3JbeOF3PRwPWeA6D1hvDKv1vB7OzVP37IRzLkpvXnkQWKva40gpe8gIRRIaY4Ox9pSV9LGS~hwPl3cKpJStobsLDsZvUcFoqklQEN9xq6Vfj5VzBjtLAroLqpv22GJDXlMhGs63HkcoGYAbrv0iYT9Epjuh3bVDXdHgJdOcbJzky2OIyG-kuGiav26tWHZcpG6kpvhZW65A0q6sp76ClNTaQr-Qc11SWt7Bpeo2iRq4XvH3BCbQaWsnCy4JjFBJrEZ~nMnYu4K6eriCbNqGLaysyjQ-66PW87TJ9nOMZ3TXOAxD04Z7IN7nHMcmEsvTHytTsLmnDtDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 1181, which would create an annual guaranteed-issue open enrollment window for Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) and prohibit Medigap carriers from denying coverage or raising premiums based on health status, drew extended testimony March 27 before the Senate Committee on Health Care.

Senator Winswe Campos, the chief sponsor, told the committee the bill is intended to give older Oregonians more choice and protect people who develop serious conditions after age 65. \"This bill helps us take another step toward ensuring that all Oregonians have access to quality health care... 86 percent of people aged 55 to 64 have a preexisting condition,\" Campos said, arguing an annual enrollment period would let seniors respond to network terminations or changes in coverage.

Patient and beneficiary groups supported the change. Adam Zarin of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society said patients with conditions such as cancer can be effectively barred from Medigap plans if they miss the initial enrollment window; he emphasized out-of-pocket exposure for cancer patients without supplemental coverage. Andrea Meyer of AARP Oregon said the current system “binds” beneficiaries to choices made at age 65, and an annual option would restore flexibility.

Insurers, trade groups and brokers warned the committee the bill would raise premiums and shrink enrollment in Medigap. Elise Brown of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and Mary Ann Cooper of Regence/Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon cautioned that a broader open enrollment and limits on age- or geography-based rating would attract enrollees with higher expected costs and push premiums higher for everyone. Brown cited an example from California in which regulators estimated a 33% increase in average Medigap premiums after a similar change. Tom Holt, a broker with the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (Oregon chapter), emphasized that geographic rating exists because costs vary across regions and warned the bill would shift costs across places such as Bend and Salem.

Proponents countered that states with continuous or annual enrollment still maintain robust Medigap markets and that the financial protection offered by Medigap can be critical: one witness said a multiple myeloma patient without supplemental coverage could face roughly $31,000 in annual out-of-pocket costs. Supporters urged the committee to weigh the balance between access and price.

The committee did not take final action on SB 1181 on March 27; members asked for further information and discussion of actuarial estimates and consumer impacts before any vote.

Ending: The hearing laid out a trade-off central to the bill: expand access for people who develop or discover significant health needs after age 65 versus the risk of higher premiums for the entire Medigap pool. The committee closed the public hearing and requested more actuarial and policy analysis.","Senate Bill 1181 would create an annual open-enrollment period for Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policies and bar insurers from denying or rate‑adjusting based on preexisting conditions; senior advocates supported the change and insurers and brokers warned it would raise premiums and destabilize the market.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621377,"Committee hears hospital price-transparency bill as advocates and hospital groups clash",3266,43735,3310090,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2802759-cb735c2f0e6ed97895da8dd529ec6480&start=43&end=3310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2802759-cb735c2f0e6ed97895da8dd529ec6480/thumbnail_43735.jpg","/articles/6621377/Oregon/Committee-hears-hospital-price-transparency-bill-as-advocates-and-hospital-groups-clash","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621377-9c7f1ba6331f5abf32194798bcd20357/orig.mp4?Expires=1771218451&Signature=QheBKFymnNAJDk6uwlSLmjbBrXUqoUVmFz51jdltpFhdOD87P917w2dk4bSTBXLqLJ~UGwYPMPpaDHr762-gUePjSUZK8ju7rEjuheLhm-hfyFft32w5euPuzQVIVLjGy2UKKPZxzCn7YJeLuTP4CWaZ1c~-~gccueKDFPtv9nU5bNl22bq6OUt7kTEbNRQCv-9IlsDDNm9uKcfgcgLtEqDPkWOSDr-kjGwFWz7db6HM-goF9ZgOs5beX4kZO0gkAC~6VspAyK5aSjuymeL9rN5dCXCvNSV0BMtF1VKOqgu~Y2ggJ2FjU6bdN8dQjVX-pFLJ7KK63hFJB8ct0ikXbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 1060, a measure that would require Oregon hospitals to publicly disclose standard charges for medical services in clear dollar amounts and provide a state-level enforcement mechanism, drew sharply divided testimony at the Senate Committee on Health Care on March 27.

Proponents said the bill is intended to make it possible for Oregonians — especially people on high-deductible plans, the uninsured or underinsured — to see and compare the out-of-pocket cost they would face for “shoppable” services such as MRIs, elective surgeries and mammograms before receiving care. \"This bill is essentially aimed at doing two things: making sure that when folks are out getting health care at a hospital, that they know the price upfront... and making sure hospitals in Oregon follow the rules that are already in effect,\" said State Representative Willie Choateson during the public hearing.

Senator Winswe Campos, the chief Senate sponsor, said the bill would require posting “an actual price… a dollar amount, not an algorithm, not a projection,” and would create a private right of action limited to circumstances in which a hospital seeks debt collection for a charge that should have been transparently posted. \"Patients should be able to know the cost of their care and the current lack of transparency leaves them in the dark,\" Campos said.

Hospital leaders and trade groups urged caution. Ari Levin, director of coverage policy and state issues for the American Hospital Association, said federal price-transparency regulations already exist and CMS has increased auditing and enforcement since 2021. \"Given this activity, additional enforcement at the state level is not only not necessary but could, in fact, be counterproductive,\" Levin told the committee. Becky Holtberg, president and CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon, said SB 1060 would impose duplicate duties, drive administrative costs and expose smaller, rural hospitals to litigation risk. \"Senate Bill 1060 will divert scarce health care dollars from patient care and frontline workers,\" Holtberg said.

Proponents and independent analysts countered that federal implementation has been uneven and that data available on some hospital websites are unusable. Charlie Fisher, State Director at a statewide public-interest group, reported that a review of 59 Oregon hospitals found only 20 (34%) had pricing information the group judged “useful and usable,” while 61% had serious accessibility limitations and three hospitals had no pricing information posted. Ahmed Marmoush, CEO of Handle Health, said his company and benefits consultants often encounter machine-readable files that are blank, coded in opaque formats, or otherwise unusable for building consumer tools.

Supporters pointed to out-of-state examples where similar laws coincided with higher compliance: Patrick Neville, who helped pass a similar Colorado law, said Colorado’s enactment led to higher compliance and few lawsuits. Opponents emphasized the risk of inconsistent state and federal reporting formats and urged the state to focus on coordination and implementation rather than new penalties.

The committee did not take final action on SB 1060 on March 27. The public hearing was closed for the day after more testimony; committee staff and members asked colleagues to review written materials and data that had been submitted, and the committee will consider next steps at a later date.

Ending: The hearing captured a persistent tension between consumer advocates pressing for stronger, state-level enforcement and hospital groups warning about duplication, administrative cost and litigation risk. The committee closed the public hearing and signaled follow-up work and review of submitted analyses before any work session or vote.","Supporters told the Senate Committee on Health Care that Senate Bill 1060 would give patients clear, comparable dollar prices for common hospital services; hospital associations and health systems warned the state-level law would duplicate federal rules, create administrative burden and risk confusing consumers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: committee advances several health-related bills, adopts amendments and refers measures to Ways and Means

Senator pitches annual Medigap open enrollment; insurers warn higher premiums and market disruption

Committee hears hospital price-transparency bill as advocates and hospital groups clash