Oregon

August 2, 2023

OREGON- Where access to health care is now a constitutional right.

(Fuller version available on OPS Google drive)

State-based SP organizations

Health Care for All Oregon  https://www.hcao.org/

Health Care for All Oregon-Action  https://www.hcao-action.org/

Oregon Chapter PNHP https://pnhp.org/chapter/oregon/

State-based SP bills

The 2023 legislature passed SB 1089, the bill to create the Universal Health Plan Governance Board. Oregon’s UHP Governance Board will do the work to create the implementation plan, and then administer the plan. The Governance Board’s job will be to create the detailed, publicly funded, single payer universal health plan.  That means the board and staff will do in-depth research and analysis to come up with the best solutions to every detail.  The board will include members with the necessary expertise and backgrounds. They’ll then present their plan to the state legislature, so implementation could start as soon as 2027.

Click here for more details about the Governance Board

This legislation is based on the recommendation of the JTFUHC in its Report to the Oregon legislature in Sept. of 2022.

Ballot Measure 111 was adopted November 8. 2022. This changed the Oregon Constitution under Article I, Section 47 with a preamble as follows: Right to affordable health care. (1) It is the obligation of the state to ensure that every resident of Oregon has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right….”  (See full preamble at OPS google drive > Legislation)

The ballot measure came about from SJR 12 of 2020 which was a legislative referral to Oregon voters for the November 2022 ballot.

SP activity in prior sessions

SB 770 of 2019 enrolled, (enacted Oregon law) ORS Chapter 629 created the Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care (JTFUHC). Link for details. One page summary.

Passed and signed by governor 7/23/2019, now ORS Chapter 629, 2019. SB 428 extended the work of the JTFUHC through 2022. The JTFUHC provided its Report to the Oregon legislature in Sept. of 2022.

Other Related Legislation: building partnerships and joining coalitions

  • HB 2658 requires a 60-day notice on prescription drug price increases. Passed.

  • HB 2689 Pharmaceutical bill to all importing drugs from Canada.  Did not pass.

  • HB 3427 The Student Success Act—the link between education and health is well established. Passed.

  • HB 2015 Access to Driver’s License for All—allows undocumented to get driver’s license. Passed.

  • HB 2005 Paid Family Medical Leave—Passed.

  • SB 608 Stable Homes for Families—limits no cause evictions. Passed

  • Cover All People–allows undocumented to get on Medicaid. Passed.

  • Racism is a Public Health Crisis. Passed.

Obstacles to SP in the current context

Need political will to stand up to opposition from Big Pharma and insurers. Make up of the future legislature and who serves as Governor will be key.

Advantages for SP in current context

Legislature currently has a Democratic majority.

HCAO is a 501c3 membership organizations leading the way on Single Payer in Oregon with database of over 36,000 supporters and 6500 FB followers.  HCAO has ability to educate and advocate (lobby).  (Nonpartisan)

The support of unions, communities of faith, and businesses is growing.

 Oregon Health Care Polling Results

  • Oregon Voters Willing to Pay Higher Tax for Health Care A 2019 state-wide poll shows that a majority of Oregon voters would be willing to consider paying a new health care tax more than twice as large as their Oregon income tax to replace health care premiums and other health care expenses. See poll details here

 Objectives for SP movement in OR 2023

  • Continue to build a broad base of partnerships.

  • Local resolutions aimed at both federal and state level support for single payer/universal healthcare.

  • Starting to build a west coast strategy in connection with Washington, California, and Hawaii

  • Supporting state prescription drug bills.

  • Focus on controlling communications in an effective, strategic way.  In particular, increase the understanding of advocates and others about the importance of a single risk pool for equity and affordability, versus potential pitfalls of various schemes that maintain a divided risk pool.

  • Work on getting federal waivers.

  • Messaging the congressional members to signed on as co-sponsors of the Medicare for All Act.

  • Messaging to get congressional members to sign as co-sponsors of the SBUHC Act (from Ro Khanna of CA).

  • Help get a SBHUC bill introduced in the Senate.

  • Oppose issues related to Medicare Advantage and private equity in healthcare.

Where can people find news about Single Payer in your state and/or join a group?

Health Care for All Oregon  https://www.hcao.org/

Health Care for All Oregon-Action  https://www.hcao-action.org/

Region: Mid-Valley (Corvallis area) Health Care for All. mvhca.org

PNHP https://pnhp.org/chapter/oregon/

Contributed by Valdez Bravo, HCAO and Mike Huntington, OPS & Mid-Valley HC