TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 31, A

003

Chair Monnes Anderson

Calls the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.  Opens an informational meeting on “financial policies for uninsured and underinsured patients.”

UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED PATIENTS, FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR – INFORMATIONAL MEETING

020

Kevin Earls

Vice President, Finance and Health Policy, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.  Submits and present written testimony regarding SB 504 and hospital financial assistance programs (EXHIBIT A), a report from the “Patient Friendly Billing” project (EXHIBIT B) and a booklet entitled, “Financial Assistance Guidelines” (EXHIBIT C).

100

Earls

Continues to testify regarding hospital financial systems.

136

Sen. Morrisette

Comments on previous testimony heard during the 2003-2004 interim that an organization paid patient premiums.  Asks to clarify that the hospitals are now paying patient premiums.

140

Earls

Responds.

152

Sen. Morrisette

Asks if the program Earls referred to is public knowledge.

153

Earls

Responds, no.  Elaborates

163

Aaron Crane

Chief Financial Officer, Salem Hospital.  Submits and presents an informational packet regarding Salem Hospital statistics and SB 504 (EXHIBIT D).

194

Sen. Morrisette

Asks Crane for an example of reasonable collection practices.

195

Crane

Responds.

203

Chair Monnes Anderson

States that the informational meeting will last for a half an hour, and then she will open a public hearing on SB 504.

205

Sen. Morrisette

Asks Crane a question regarding the conditions of repayment.

206

Crane

Responds.  Continues testimony regarding Salem Hospital’s statistics.

219

Chair Monnes Anderson

Asks Crane a question regarding charity care accounting practices from 2000-2005.

223

Crane

Responds. Continues testimony regarding Salem Hospital’s statistics.

237

Chair Monnes Anderson

Asks Crane to explain the effect of costs from Halliburton’s federal program.

240

Crane

Responds.

244

Rick Berkobien

Committee Administrator.  Asks Crane a question regarding the relation of Salem Hospital’s charity care and Halliburton’s federal program.

246

Crane

Answers question.

251

Sen. Kruse

Comments on charity care and Halliburton’s federal program.

253

Crane

Continues to testify regarding Salem Hospital’s statistics.

286

Sen. Morrisette

Discusses funds that are federally matched.  Asks Crane a question regarding the funds received from the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).

293

Crane

Responds.

300

Sen. Morrisette

Discusses how fees may have increased the number of charity care for patients.  Asks Crane if the implementation of the fee is a benefit for hospitals.

303

Crane

Responds, no.  Elaborates.

306

Earls

Discusses how hospitals do not benefit from the fee.

TAPE 32, A

018

Kevin McAndrews

Health System Director, Patient Financial Services, PeaceHealth.  Submits and presents a fact sheet about the 2004 PeaceHealth Health Benefits Fairs (EXHIBIT E) and a brochure about PeaceHealth’s Financial Services (EXHIBIT F).

086

Chair Monnes Anderson

Asks McAndrews if patients arriving at the emergency room (ER) are treated first, or do staff find out what kind of insurance they have prior to treatment.

091

McAndrews

Answers that patients are treated first, regardless of their ability to pay.

100

Chair Monnes Anderson

Discusses a personal experience with her uninsured son going to the ER.  Discusses the need of transparency in hospitals.

114

McAndrews

Comments on how PeaceHealth is proactive about providing financial information to patients.

120

Crane

Asks the Chair how long ago her son was in the ER.

121

Chair Monnes Anderson

Responds, two years ago.

122

Crane

Discusses the improvement with new staff at Salem Hospital within the last year.

123

Chair Monnes Anderson

Closes the informational meeting on “financial policies for uninsured and underinsured patients” and opens a public hearing on SB 504.

SB 504 – PUBLIC HEARING

126

Rick Berkobien

Committee Administrator.  Presents overview of SB 504.

163

Beth Barrinson

ACORN – Oregon.  Submits and presents written testimony on behalf of Jacquelyn Bell, member, ACORN - Oregon, in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT G) and on behalf of Arran Stokes, member, ACORN – Oregon, in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT H).  Testifies in support of SB 504.

184

Jack Berger

Member, ACORN – Oregon.  Submits and presents written testimony in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT I).

257

Thomas Edward Mullin

Member, ACORN – Oregon.  Submits and presents written testimony in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT J).

350

Mullin

Continues testimony.

TAPE 31, B

018

Elizabeth Beyers

Oregon Health Action Campaign.  Submits and presents written testimony in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT K) and a practice agreement for Oregon hospitals (EXHIBIT L).

070

Beyers

Continues testimony.

113

Mary Lou Hennrich

Oregon Health Action Campaign.  Submits and presents written testimony on half of Ellen Pinney, Oregon Health Action Campaign, in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT M).

170

Hennrich

Continues testimony.

220

Bruce Bishop

Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.  Submits and presents written analysis of SB 504 (EXHIBIT N).

310

Bishop

Concludes testimony.

320

Chair Monnes Anderson

Asks Bishop if there are additional concerns that he would like to address.

321

Bishop

Responds, yes.  Discusses concerns.

TAPE 32, B

020

Bishop

Continues testimony.

070

Les Helgeson

Citizen, Beaver, Oregon.  Testifies in support of SB 504.

100

Laurie Alton

Pro Bono Manager, Portland, Oregon.  Submits and presents written testimony in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT O).

141

Lynn-Marie Crider

Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 49 and Local 503.  Submits and presents written testimony in support of SB 504 (EXHIBIT P).

183

Sen. Morrisette

Discusses using additional revenue and federal matches. 

193

Crider

Comments on Sen. Morrisette’s statement.  Continues testimony.

226

Chair Monnes Anderson

Comments on the need to address issues that Bishop discussed. Closes the public hearing on SB 504.  Adjourns the meeting at 3:00 p.m.