Senate hearing: bill would let insured Oregonians apply cash-pay prices to deductibles

The Oregon Senate Committee on Healthcare on April 17 heard public testimony on House Bill 2540A, which would require health insurers to apply certain direct payments a patient makes to a health care provider toward that patient’s deductible when the service is medically necessary, covered under the policy and the cash-pay price is lower than the insurer’s in‑network rate.

Supporters told the committee the measure would help Oregonians with high deductibles access affordable care and be credited for cost-conscious choices. Representative Ed Deal, the House sponsor, said the bill would introduce “deductible crediting” to Oregon and allow insured patients who find cheaper cash prices to have those payments count toward their deductible.

Representative Ed Deal, state representative for House District 17, said: “If an insured patient finds a cash-pay price for…