HB 2009 moved out of House Health Care this week, headed for Ways & Means.  A referral to the House Revenue Committee was rescinded by the Health Care committee, so Ways & Means could be the last stop for this bill before it goes to both House and Senate floors.
 
The bill creates an Oregon Health Authority which would regulate public health, the Oregon Health Plan program, and some functions of the insurance division.   The bill also begins the process of creating a health insurance exchange; the Authority is charged with researching the prospect and reporting its findings to the 2011 Legislature.

Many other amendments were included in HB 2009—more than 70 in all—including the contents of several health reform bills which began their lives in the Senate.

Throughout the process of hearing and working the bill, Representative Greenlick (D – Portland) has limited consideration of amendments offered by almost anyone but his own staff, with some input from the Oregon Health Fund Board executive director.  Many amendments offered by others never saw the light of day.
 
This led to the creation of another bill in Senate Health Care and Veterans’ Affairs, which is being written to contain different interpretations of the Health Fund Board’s recommendations.  Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D – Gresham), the chair, has indicated that she intends this bill to move forward to Ways & Means, where it will be evaluated along with HB 2009.