The Oregon Better Health Act would position Oregon to seek exceptions from the federal government to allow our state to use federal and state dollars in a way that makes sense to us. Beginning in the Spring of 2006 we have been working together to create this proposal. Through a citizen involvement process that resulted in numerous revisions, our proposed legislation was introduced in the 2007 Oregon Legislature as Senate Bill 27. Though it did not pass in the 2007 session, we have had a profound effect on the discussion about our health in Oregon. The Oregon Better Health Act seeks to address the key elements which underlie medical cost inflation.
- It ensures that all Oregonians will have access to a “core benefit” of essential health services;
- It explicitly defines this core benefit through a transparent process which prioritizes health services based on their relative effectiveness in producing health;
- It seeks to realign financial incentives to ensure fair and reasonable payment to providers, value-based cost sharing for consumers, and the transition to a more efficient delivery system; and
- It squarely confronts the underlying federal structure which must be reconsidered and modifi ed in light of the realities of today if we hope to control cost and create a system that is both fair and economically sustainable.
» Read a summary of the legislation
» Read Senate Bill 27 (PDF)
Since the majority of the public money we currently spend on health is governed by federal laws, any state wanting to do something different must first seek permission to do so from the federal government. There are three legal steps involved.
- First, Oregon must pass a law, either in the Legislature or by ballot measure that describes how we would spend these public dollars to create a new health care system.
- Second, Oregon must seek permission from Congress to use these resources to redesign the system.
- Finally, if Oregon is granted the necessary authority, we would prepare detailed state legislation to actually put the new system into place.
The Oregon Better Health Act is that first step. It will allow Oregon to seek the necessary authority from the federal government to use federal and state dollars in a way that makes sense to us. Passing waiver legislation does not commit the state to any specific action, nor does it mean that we have statewide agreement on the details of implementation. What the Oregon Better Health Act does is give us the tools to shape our own future. It opens the door of possibility.
Our goal is that this legislation reflects the concerns, hopes and values of all Oregonians. Now the work of the Archimedes Movement is to seek support for SB 27 in the Oregon legislature.
» Read a summary of the legislation
» Read Senate Bill 27 (PDF)
