Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In Oregon, Voter Referendum Backs Taxes To Pay For State's Medicaid Program
The Associated Press: Oregon Approves New Taxes To Address Medicaid Costs
Oregon approved taxes on hospitals, health insurers and managed care companies in an unusual special election Tuesday that asked voters — and not lawmakers — how to pay for Medicaid costs that now include coverage of hundreds of thousands of low-income residents added to the program's rolls under the Affordable Care Act. Measure 101 was passing handily in early returns Tuesday night. The single-issue election drew national attention to this progressive state, which aggressively expanded its Medicaid rolls under President Barack Obama's health care reforms. (1/24)
The Oregonian: Oregon Voters Overwhelmingly Pass Health Care Taxes
Measure 101, which led 61 percent to 39 percent with returns partially tallied, was the only issue on the ballot. It will raise $210 million to $320 million in taxes on Oregon's largest hospitals and many health insurance policies by 2019. Voters' wide approval of the tax deal was a victory for Democrats, who put the deal together and brokered enough votes in the Legislature to pass it, and for the health care industry, which bankrolled the "yes" campaign and will benefit from the resulting $1 billion-plus that will be spent on Oregonians' health care. (Borrud, 1/23)
Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard: Voters Pass Measure 101 By Wide Margin To Fund Oregon Health Plan Through Mid-2019
Supporters enjoyed a more than 10-to-1 fundraising advantage over the measure’s opponents, giving them greater reach through television and radio commercials, prints ads and door-to-door canvassers. They argued throughout the campaign that the taxes were necessary to preserve health care for as many as 350,000 Oregonians — including 40,000 Lane County residents — who have benefited from the Medicaid expansion. (Glucklich, 1/24)
