SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY

March 4, 2003 Hearing Room B

1:00 p.m. Tapes 29 - 30

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Bill Morrisette, Chair

Sen. Bill Fisher, Vice-Chair

Sen. John Minnis

Sen. Charles Starr

Sen. Vicki Walker

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. Frank Shields

STAFF PRESENT: Marjorie Taylor, Administrator

Megan Jensen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Oregon Health Plan - Informational Meeting

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 29, A
004	Chair Morrisette	Calls the meeting to order at 1:12 p.m. Opens informational meeting.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING Oregon Health Plan
015	Ellen Pinney	Oregon Health Action Campaign. Provides an overview of the Oregon Health Action Campaign (OHAC) (EXHIBIT A). Discusses OHAC participation in the development of the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).
075	Pinney	Continues discussion of concerns regarding OHP organization and services.
130	Pinney	Talks about budget issues surrounding OHP, and offers suggestions for OHP improvement.
240	Pinney	Continues discussion of ways to improve OHP, including improving access and managing costs.
320	Chair Morrisette	Asks for a fiscal impact analysis on OHAC recommendations.
322	Pinney	Responds.
333	Chair Morrisette	Offers to forward the recommendations to the OHP work group.
368	Elizabeth Byers	Mental Health Association of Oregon. Talks about issues surrounding mental health care.
TAPE 30, A
002	Byers	Discusses problems with the OHP application process.
027	Sen. Walker	Asks what information the eligibility card contains.
029	Byers	Clarifies.
040	Sen. Walker	Inquires why problems exist with the card.
042	Byers	Explains.
053	Chair Morrisette	Asks how often the cards are updated.
055	Byers	Replies that they are updated every month.
061	Sen. Walker	Wonders why the process can’t be simplified.
064	Byers	Responds that a system similar to the Oregon Trail Card would be beneficial. Continues discussion of the application process.
119	Chair Morrisette	Asks for explanation of ENCC.
122	Byers	Responds that ENCC stands for Exceptional Needs Care Coordinators.
138	Chair Morrisette	Offers to forward recommendations to the OHP work group.
153	Ellen Gradison	Oregon Law Center (OLC). Believes OHP needs reorganization and offers recommendations for change.
220	Gradison	Continues discussion of suggested changes to OHP.
269	Sen. Fisher	Comments on how revenue problems will affect an overhaul of OHP.
288	Gradison	Responds.
320	Sen. Fisher	Comments on budget cuts and tax increases.
TAPE 29, B
002	Chair Morrisette	Requests OLC recommendations be given to the OHP work group.
051	Sheila North	Association of Alcohol and Drug Administrators of Oregon. States concerns with the OHP regarding drug and alcohol treatment.
131	Chair Morrisette	Asks if the Governor’s budget contains funds for drug and alcohol treatment.
133	North	Responds.
140	Ellen Lowe	Health Services Commission. Reviews concerns with the initial implementation of OHP.
370	Lynn-Marie Crider	Oregon AFL-CIO. Gives testimony on extending coverage under the OHP to a larger population. (EXHIBIT B) Discusses flawed assumptions about spending in OHP.
TAPE 30, B
090	Sen. Minnis	Asks for clarification of the concept that some people pay more and get less.
095	Crider	Responds.
130	Sen. Minnis	Asks what percentage AFL-CIO members are union members and public employees.
135	Crider	Answers.
140	Sen. Minnis	Continues questions of Crider in relation to insurance coverage, costs and other models of coverage.
240	Crider	Discusses issues surrounding the costs of provider services.
290	Sen. Minnis	Believes consumers should understand the costs of services they receive.
294	Crider	Responds.
301	Sen. Minnis	Talks about the complicated issues surrounding utilization of services.
322	Crider	Replies.
369	Chair Morrisette	Requests a summary of specific recommendations from AFL-CIO. Closes informational meeting and adjourns meeting at 3:00 p.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – Informational, written testimony, Ellen Pinney, 38 pp

B – Informational, written testimony, Lynn-Marie Crider, 12 pp