Urges Major Overhaul in the First 100 Days of Oregon’s Legislative Session

Salem, OR-Citing broad public concern over a crumbling health care system that is pulling Oregon further into economic turmoil, a coalition of advocates called on Oregon's legislature to enact Oregon Health Fund Board recommendations and thus initiate major reforms within the first 100 days (April 21^st) of legislative session. The advocates are calling the campaign “100 Days: Count Down to Health”.

“Poll after poll shows voters want leaders who will fix our broken health care system and make health care work for everyone. The time forjavascript:noop() talk is over,” said Cathy Kaufmann of Children First for Oregon. Referring to recent polls showing nearly two thirds of voters want health care reform, even in the face of a struggling economy, and another showing the best way to help the economy is to reduce health care costs and provide everyone with access to health care.

“It’s not right that people who work for a living are finding it hard to afford to take their kids – let alone themselves – to a doctor. No one living in Oregon should be forced to risk losing their life savings, home and dignity because of one illness,” said Ellen Pinney of the Oregon Health Action Campaign. “Oregon has a plan in place, and it must be implemented now.”

Pinney referred to the Oregon Health Fund Board’s plan presented to the legislature last fall. She said the plan is the result of dozens of statewide public meetings, the input of hundreds of expert staff and volunteers, and comments by more than a thousand Oregonians throughout the state.

"Small businesses are the economic engine of Oregon," said Chris Apgar of Oregon Small Business Healthcare Initiative. "We want to ensure the Board's recommendations on quality of care, prevention, cost containment and a progressive, sustainable revenue source are studied seriously. Major changes in our healthcare delivery system and coverage are needed to enable small businesses to provide healthcare for employees and their families."

Judith Auslander has fought to keep health insurance for much of her adult life. She has been off and on private and public plans due to changes in employment. Her “pre-existing” condition makes private insurance difficult to afford.

“Why should anyone have to struggle so hard and jump through hoops just to get medical care? It is ridiculous that insurers are able to refuse people due to pre-existing conditions and raise rates at will while taking in huge profits,” Auslander said.

"As a physician and an Oregonian, I find the current direction of health care unacceptable. Everyone must be able to go to the doctor when they need to. My patients' experiences show an economic need for change. Healthy people build healthy communities, and we must find a way to ensure every Oregonian has access to quality, affordable health care when they need it."

The coalition of health care advocates, small business, community, consumer, labor, children and senior groups was joined by legislative health reform champions Rep. Mitch Greenlick, Sen. Dr. Alan Bates and Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson.