Oregon Legislative Panels Approve Plan to Expand Oregon Health Plan, Send Waiver Request to CMS

The Oregon Legislature's interim budget committee on May 1 approved a proposed expansion of the Oregon Health Plan, the state's Medicaid program, about a week after Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) announced he had given up on altering the program, the AP/Eugene Register-Guard reports (AP/Eugene Register-Guard, 5/2). Earlier in the week, the Legislature's Leadership Commission on Health Care Costs and Trends endorsed the proposal. The approval by the two panels means that Oregon officials can send to the federal government a waiver request that if approved, would allow the state to implement the changes. Lawmakers approved the expansion plan last summer but have been "haggling" with the governor over the details (Beggs, AP/Eugene Register Guard, 5/1). Under the bill (HB 2519) lawmakers approved, the current program would be split into two tiers: OHP Plus would cover individuals categorically eligible for traditional Medicaid, and OHP Standard would cover residents who became eligible after the state expanded Medicaid coverage in 1994. Currently, the Oregon Health Plan allows non-Medicaid eligible individuals earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level, or $8,860 for an individual, to enroll; the bill would expand eligibility for non-Medicaid beneficiaries to 185% of the poverty level. The plan also would require some beneficiaries to contribute copayments for various services, such as $2 for each generic prescription and $250 per hospital admission (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/25). Frustrated that the Legislature had not yet approved his waiver proposal, Kitzhaber last week said he would not pursue the plan any further. However, after legislators said they would begin discussions on the proposal, Kitzhaber "renewed his call" for the expansion (AP/Eugene Register Guard, 5/1). Mark Gibson, the governor's health policy aide, said Kitzhaber "basically supports" the plan the panels approved (AP/Eugene Register-Guard, 5/2).