[{"_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",6242382,"mediaKeyId","3247785-6250cef95ab490ad2d8e6c7f905b3e59","parentId",3247785,"title","Bill would let Oregon tribes opt into disease and PDMP data-sharing agreements with OHA","audioSeconds",447,"startMs",3361930,"endMs",3809215,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247785-6250cef95ab490ad2d8e6c7f905b3e59&start=3361&end=3809","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247785-6250cef95ab490ad2d8e6c7f905b3e59/thumbnail_3361930.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6242382/Oregon/Bill-would-let-Oregon-tribes-opt-into-disease-and-PDMP-data-sharing-agreements-with-OHA","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242382-f778c84283b86e4b181fd952f9069303/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195755&Signature=MnLXdi6f~3t~fgkrQqcco4xAW0KY1-kqIlixKKJVNl1pl8CLCzhV0dV6Pyj6hJSp10Bm05rB7XcNJdBJMhQWzegRI7SI2LuvQtjrMH~U2KiSwuLFhKD8suAhwkdR4fXtepcN3kOrv1-0ZXiCD53oMsJ1Bon7oMyPJwmQ9kKbf4yXI6uBkOfKwPR0GHWe2dASDu5fxZhis4XK6voF3ybMBrVRyMvbCST-XOGMIdP7xzuTkp~EDlmOfl26M0eNV1YPW5pKommq3zxEBkto-HjQ-AwUEMmVWDCqLfZCySXySO~Cyxavt9vmqPGgxlZpZLSobgcKOOYYYRTX8U~85Ydmpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon Legislature","date","2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care heard testimony May 8 on Senate Bill 841A, an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) agency bill that would allow the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon and an affiliated tribal epidemiology center to enter agreements with OHA for public-health data sharing.

Julie Johnson, tribal affairs director at OHA, told the committee the measure would permit two types of agreements if tribes opt in: data-sharing for communicable-disease reporting and investigations, and limited sharing of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data for patients with tribal affiliation. \"Tribes want to continue to be able to do that,\" Johnson said, noting the work began during the pandemic when tribes needed case information to conduct investigations.

Johnson said the legislation recognizes tribes as sovereign public-health authorities and clarifies that participation is voluntary. She described the PDMP component as a tool to support tribal work on the opioid epidemic through research, education and public-health evaluation. Committee members asked whether the process would be similar to county public-health contract tracing; Johnson said the disease-investigation methodology would be the same and that several tribes already run public-health programs.

On funding, Johnson said the bill, as presented, does not request new funding; OHA already provides some public-health modernization funding and other supports that could assist tribes that choose to opt in. She noted tribes vary in capacity: some expanded public-health work during the pandemic and others are smaller and growing.

Committee discussion focused on confidentiality, sovereign status and implementation logistics. Representative Deal noted the new authority is similar to existing county relationships for disease reporting; Johnson said the bill aligns tribal access with that framework while respecting tribal data governance and sovereignty.

Ending: The committee closed the public hearing after questions and no formal committee action was recorded; sponsors and OHA emphasized that data-sharing would proceed only by agreement and that tribes would opt in according to their public-health priorities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Behavioral Health and Health Care 05/08/2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care heard testimony May 8 on Senate Bill 841A, which would allow the nine federally recognized Oregon tribes and an affiliated tribal epidemiology center to enter agreements with the Oregon Health Authority for public-health data sharing.","taxTitle","Behavioral Health and Health Care, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17444,"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},6242387,"Advocates urge coverage for active prosthetics and orthotics; insurers largely neutral or concerned about language",2203,1135755,3339424,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247785-6250cef95ab490ad2d8e6c7f905b3e59&start=1135&end=3339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247785-6250cef95ab490ad2d8e6c7f905b3e59/thumbnail_1135755.jpg","/articles/6242387/Oregon/Advocates-urge-coverage-for-active-prosthetics-and-orthotics-insurers-largely-neutral-or-concerned-about-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242387-83ecbd05712062d2bba771b1af84147f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195755&Signature=PM-OqhieND9brtZRU8Riqyl2nS1XscfqVM9vtsauruAl3rJzPM9Gy0yTHATzRwi1nIKJXuDj168TEIEckPbgZpeGwEoJXKiGUNqH9DDFJaq7bLVhPhD6HGNHTbkaJNcGQTrokEt67pcNGK3GiJw4PVT-wZKCV9CfOKwwbUiLBT0KaesyudmzZBFf4e~jmHA3iUpPPxSaIyBe1Uz~hpixHKYrxY97rDb4Ldbw2y9b6ZpJs89FoPaAnR3oAaAEWZi-Q5Auhbgp-7flgwpuLeZZS-xN8N8ZczE30k0rs5YJyWkCYyDNwbeGkYwX8llKdr3wjE2jfpp5-HtjXdbP0zThHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care held a public hearing May 8 on Senate Bill 699, a measure that would expand insurance coverage for medically necessary prosthetic and orthotic devices, including devices that enable physical activity and exercise.

Sen. Lisa Reynolds, a physician and sponsor, told the committee the bill would extend coverage beyond devices that enable activities of daily living to those \"which are needed to perform kind of exertional physical activities in service of whole body health.\" She said devices would still require a determination of medical necessity by the patient’s health care provider.

Representative Hai Pham described the bill as reducing financial barriers to activity-specific devices and said some active prosthetics can cost \"upwards of $15,000 out of pocket.\" Testimony from multiple amputees and clinicians framed the issue as a health and equity matter: access to sport- or activity-specific devices can prevent secondary injuries and support physical and mental well-being.

Sarah Hollandsworth, co-lead for So Everybody Can Move Oregon, and Nicole Verkheilen of the Amputee Coalition described personal and community impacts. Hollandsworth said her running blades cost $15,000 each and recounted relying on grants to participate in events. Verkheilen recounted waiting years for an appropriate running blade and said, after receiving one, \"my insurance has not had to pay for a new foot in over 7 years. More importantly, I can run without pain.\" Charlotte Ness, a 13-year-old athlete who uses running blades and receives support from Shriners Children’s Portland and Challenge Athletes Foundation, said she worries about losing coverage at age 21.

Clinicians and prosthetists supported the bill. Taylor Wyatt, a certified prosthetist-orthotist, said restrictive insurance policies that limit devices to basic walking function prevent many patients from obtaining the device that matches their activity needs. Tristan Thomas, an adaptive athlete and veteran, compared private insurance limitations unfavorably to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which covers activity-specific devices.

Insurer representatives described negotiations on the Senate side and a current neutral position for at least one carrier. Leah Navarro, representing Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon, said Regence is neutral after changes made in the Senate and noted the mandate does not cover Oregon Health Plan (OHP) or public employees under the state plan, limiting reach to about one-third of Oregonians. Fawn Berry of Moda Health said her company opposed the bill as written, raising concerns about ambiguous language in subsection cross-references and how the Department of Consumer and Business Services might interpret the mandate.

Supporters said the bill mirrors recent action in other states. Representative Pham said passage would put Oregon among the states that have enacted similar laws; transcript testimony counted about nine states already enacted and roughly 40 states actively pursuing similar measures. The sponsors also noted a posted A6 amendment that removes outdated language from statutes.

Ending: The committee closed the public hearing with a mix of personal testimony, clinical support and insurer concerns; no committee vote was taken. Sponsors and stakeholders signaled continued work to refine statutory language and align coverage across market segments.","At a public hearing, supporters of Senate Bill 699 urged insurers to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices used for physical activity and sports, citing health and functional benefits; some insurers signaled neutrality after amendments while Moda Health expressed wording concerns.",{"_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},6242391,"Witnesses say prior-authorization delays strand wheelchair users; bill would require 72-hour decisions",1110,24785,1135205,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247785-6250cef95ab490ad2d8e6c7f905b3e59&start=24&end=1135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247785-6250cef95ab490ad2d8e6c7f905b3e59/thumbnail_24785.jpg","/articles/6242391/Oregon/Witnesses-say-prior-authorization-delays-strand-wheelchair-users-bill-would-require-72-hour-decisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242391-75c6e8db275c9a16c44334d3c47dc710/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195755&Signature=NvpmTcyYR2h2MeKLfIl2EdSp-SPGNrDR4LfZ68Earp0SG13JYhAowusP8E2~f~LsxY7UHj44FcMqXN7~xegHWDTJkiq3wGh8adLj1ZaOhQyuexO6N7Q7BrkiACbAqNiMjMgTyR-UZ8Q8sk~NZ3jTyTN6PnKn4ysY2wnjaTYHPtyhFqAUHEvMrhpbWkyhgnxWVzPM9wWdxnqnAOfGh8-J3WmxAfOEE9F6odKoiNIQC302YJxupCGzZxjZ9g99-Db1pFJGxALs6qzcuq3NSwgtnYoGwCYzolGXYDZC5DRdRv4ouLmrOq3yhsXlIuSYAg-tqFu3lPVafcm7wgcKr~b2HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care heard public testimony May 8 on Senate Bill 549A, which would require the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) or a coordinated care organization (CCO) to respond to prior-authorization requests for repairs to complex rehabilitation technology within 72 hours.

Advocates said the change is urgent because delays in repairing wheelchairs and other assistive devices can confine people at home, jeopardize safety and cost jobs. \"Everyone deserves the tools they need to be fully included in society,\" Matthew Sears, testifying for the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition, told the committee.

The bill’s backers described repeated, long delays under current practice and testified that faster prior-authorization decisions would reduce harms. Emily Grama, executive director of The Arc Oregon, said she and others have \"heard from people that it took over 3 months to obtain prior authorization\" and that some repair processes have left people without mobility for months.

Several witnesses gave personal and survey-based examples. Sears asked lawmakers to review video testimony from Kelsey Hargroves, a person with a developmental disability who lives in Klamath Falls and \"uses a power wheelchair and works at Burger King. Without her chair, she cannot continue to work,\" Sears said. He and others said prior-authorization delays left Hargroves without a working chair for nearly six months.

Charlie Fisher, state director at OSPURG, described national survey results his group collected: \"93 percent needed their chair serviced in the last year and 68 percent had to wait 4 more weeks for that repair. And some had to wait more than 24 weeks.\" Jim Davis, co-chair of the Oregon Disability Health and Employment Equity Coalition, said repairs can be required even for \"minor repairs\" but still face lengthy authorization processes that prevent immediate fixes.

Providers and suppliers described operational inefficiencies. Montana Llewellyn of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology said suppliers sometimes have parts on hand but cannot install them until prior authorization clears. Henry O'Keefe, representing a coalition that includes CCOs, said the industry currently has a longer authorization window: \"Right now, we have 14 days to authorize a prior auth. We're moving to 72 hours.\" He added that CCOs must also balance federal fraud, waste and abuse obligations.

Committee members asked several technical questions, including whether the 72-hour requirement would eliminate all delays; witnesses said it would shorten but not entirely remove other sources of delay such as parts availability. Representative Deal described the current process — a technician diagnosing a dead battery but having to leave and return after authorization — as \"very, very wasteful.\" Representative Diehl referenced federal enforcement cases elsewhere as a caution about fraud risks.

There was no formal committee vote during the hearing; the session was a public hearing to gather testimony and questions. Witnesses on both sides said they planned continued negotiation during the interim to address remaining issues, such as immediate on-site repairs when a part is available.

Ending: The committee closed the public hearing on SB 549A after testimony and questions and proceeded to the next bill. No formal action or vote was recorded during the session.
","At a May 8 House committee hearing, advocates testified that delays in Medicaid prior authorization for repairs to complex rehabilitation technology leave Oregon residents unable to work or at health risk; Senate Bill 549A would require the Oregon Health Authority or coordinated care organizations to decide repair requests within 72 hours.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would let Oregon tribes opt into disease and PDMP data-sharing agreements with OHA

Advocates urge coverage for active prosthetics and orthotics; insurers largely neutral or concerned about language

Witnesses say prior-authorization delays strand wheelchair users; bill would require 72-hour decisions