AP/Washington Times Features Universal Care Ballot Initiative in Oregon

The AP/Washington Times on Oct. 9 examines an Oregon ballot measure that would establish the first universal health care system in the nation. Measure 23, which will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, would provide health insurance to the estimated 423,000 state residents without coverage. The state would fund the measure, which would cost an estimated $19 billion per year, with $7 billion from a new 11.5% payroll tax on businesses, $4.9 billion from an 8% increase in the personal income tax and about $7 billion from "shifting state and federal health care dollars" (AP/Washington Times, 10/9). Under the measure, beneficiaries would not pay premiums, copayments, deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses, and the measure would provide coverage for physical and mental health services, as well as long-term care and alternative treatments. In addition, the state could not exclude residents with preexisting medical conditions from coverage. An independent, not-for-profit corporation administered by a 15-member board would operate the universal health care system and would negotiate contracts with providers (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/25). Mark Lindgren, spokesperson for Health Care for All Oregon, which sponsored the measure, said, "What we are proposing is ambitious and audacious, but we believe the health care system now is in a crisis." The measure faces "strong opposition" from businesses, insurance groups and health care organizations. J.L. Wilson, head of the Oregon chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said, "It's the richest benefits package known to man. Under this bill, you would have to pay for people to go to a massage therapist four days a week because it's deemed 'medically necessary'" (AP/Washington Times, 10/9).