Our Pledge to Every Oregonian

2019 Legislative Successes

Fighting for the Right to Health Care

Protecting Medicaid: HB 2010 fully funds Oregon’s share of financial responsibility for the state Medicaid program, known as the Oregon Health Plan, for six years. The Oregon Health Plan covers 1.1 million Oregonians, including low-income adults, adults with disabilities, the aging and disabled population, and hundreds of thousands of low- and moderate-income children.

Decreasing Tobacco Use and Adding Funding: HB 2270 refers to voters an increase in the state’s tobacco tax and implements a new excise tax on e-cigarettes and other “vape” devices. Revenues from these taxes will further fund health care for underserved populations and tobacco cessation services.

Mental Health: This year’s budget invests $97 million to improve statewide mental and behavioral health, including nearly $10 million in IMPACT grants to support people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders who cycle through the emergency room, courts, and jails; over $7 million to increase the state’s capacity for community restoration services to help address the statewide Aid and Assist crisis; and $10 million in suicide prevention funding.

Tackling the Opioid Epidemic: HB 2257 acknowledges that substance use disorder is a chronic illness and takes a multifaceted approach to Oregon’s opioid crisis. HB 3273 establishes a statewide drug takeback program.

Reducing the Cost of Prescription Drugs: HB 2185 takes on pharmacy benefit managers and ensures small, local pharmacies have equal footing. HB 2658 requires at least 60-days-notice when a pharmaceutical manufacturer raises prices by 10% on a high cost drug.

Charity Care: HB 3076 ensures hospitals who receive millions of dollars in tax breaks due to their non-profit status are actually earning their tax break by providing a minimum standard of community benefit. This bill prohibits malicious collections practices for medical debt.