House passes bills on deductible crediting, newborn screening, nursing and pharmacy updates; naturopathic oversight bill sent back to committee

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon House of Representatives on March 17 approved multiple bills on third reading affecting health care costs, newborn screening, nursing practice and pharmacy oversight, and sent a bill expanding oversight of naturopathic practice back to committee for additional work.

House Bill 25 40 A, a measure on deductible crediting, passed on final passage. Sponsor Representative Deal said the bill would allow insured patients to use a lower cash price for a medically necessary, covered service to count toward their insurance deductible. “If an insured patient finds a cash pay price for a procedure that is cheaper than what their in network providers are charging, their insurance company must apply that expense toward the patient's deductible,” Representative Deal said on the floor. The representative cited Oregon Health Authority figures about average deductibles and offered an example in which a cash colonoscopy price of $541 would yield a substantial saving compared with an insurer’s negotiated rate of about $2,400.

House Bill 27 41, which creates a newborn blood spot screening follow‑up program, also passed. Representative Nelsonsen, sponsor of the bill, said the measure directs the Oregon Health Authority to expand education, follow‑up care and long‑term support for families after a newborn screening diagnosis. “This bill is a safeguard. It creates a newborn blood spot screening program to…