Like you, OHS believes the time is now for health reform. All Oregonians need affordable access to quality health care. Our ultimate objective is to improve health. The Oregon legislature is set to vote on Monday, June 8th on two bills that will make health care more affordable for all Oregonians. Call your legislators and tell them to vote yes on House Bill 2009 and House Bill 2116.

The Passage of HB2009 and HB2116 will start Oregon down the path of comprehensive health reform. Recognizing that investing in meaningful ways to control spiraling health care costs and improving our delivery system is part of sustainable economic recovery. Soon, if your legislators vote yes, Oregon can begin to implement this historic legislation.

This package of bills will save Oregon’s Health care system up to $10 billion dollars over the next decade, draw over $1 billion in federal money into Oregon over the next four years. These bills also set up the framework needed to ensure all Oregonians have access to quality, affordable and secure health care over the coming years.

Our coalition of over 40 organizations representing over 800,000 Oregonians came together this session to support the recommendations of the Oregon Health Fund Board www.healthfundboard.oregon.gov. We have worked with both the House and Senate to produce legislation that is true to nearly all of the OHFB recommendations that were designed to make Oregon a healthier place.

OHS and our allies have recognized from the beginning of the session that the Health Fund Board’s plan needed to be sequenced over several years. The steps taken this session are only a beginning, and the legislature must take this critical first step on health reform.

Call your legislators and tell them to vote yes on House Bills 2009 and 2116.