Senate committee hears bill to let outpatient clinics that employ CADCs bill private insurers

Representative Rob Nose, the bill—s chief sponsor, and a provider gave testimony in favor of House Bill 2013 A before the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health on May 6. The measure would expand the definition of —provider— in state statute to include licensed outpatient facilities that employ certified alcohol and drug counselors (CADCs), allowing those facilities to seek reimbursement from private insurers.

The bill—s sponsor, Representative Rob Nose, said, "I'm here today to speak in support of House Bill 20 13, which seeks to improve Oregon's access problem by ex expanding the definition of provider to include, and this is from the bill, a licensed outpatient facility that employs certified alcohol and drug counselors at certain levels." He told the committee the change aims to let more treatment settings bill insurance, which he said would improve access to addiction treatment across Oregon.

Philip Broyles, who identified himself as representing a state-certified outpatient treatment center, testified that private insurers often refuse to reimburse CADCs and that the exclusion limits access. "This bill will help Oregonians gain immediate access to life saving substance use disorder treatment by ensuring certified alcohol and drug counselors can be reimbursed by private insurance," Broyles said. He described repeated patient calls asking, "Do you take our insurance?" and said private plans often decline to credential facilities that primarily employ CADCs.

Both speakers and committee members clarified technical limits of the measure. Representative Nose told the committee the bill does not set reimbursement rates or require insurers to credential facilities; it only expands who may be considered an eligible provider under state law. He also noted that Medicaid already allows CADCs to bill for services and that HB 2013 A would extend similar billing recognition to private insurance.

Committee leaders did not vote on the bill during the hearing. Chair Reynolds closed the public hearing and said the committee had scheduled a work session on HB 2013 A for Thursday, May 8. No floor action or formal committee recommendation on the bill was taken at the May 6 meeting.

Why it matters: Sponsors and providers said the change would reduce barriers to care by allowing outpatient programs that rely on CADCs to be paid by private insurance; lawmakers asked about credentialing, patient cost and whether the change might encourage more clinics to employ CADCs in underserved areas.

Details and next steps: The committee recorded the public hearing and listed HB 2013 A for further consideration at a scheduled work session on May 8. The measure remains under committee consideration; any legal or reimbursement changes would take effect only if the Legislature enacts the bill and the governor signs it.