Bill Graves, June 8, 2009
The Oregon House passed two broad health reform bills Monday that are designed to contain costs, create a new health agency and add thousands of uninsured adults and children to the state health plan.
Legislators and health care advocates said the bills represent Oregon's biggest leap forward in health reform since it enacted the Oregon Health Plan 15 years ago.
"This will put Oregon on the map for health care reform," said Rep. Tina Kotek, D-Portland.
House Bill 2116, which passed by a 36-24 vote, would tax hospitals and insurers to expand state health care coverage to 80,000 uninsured children and 35,000 low-income adults.
House Bill 2009 approved 38 to 22, would create an Oregon Health Authority, which eventually would take over most health-related functions of the Department of Human Services. State officials said the legislation would create an estimated 3,600 high-paying jobs in hospitals, medical clinics and other areas.
