Jmmt o u t ? h b r a a iy 1002 T 13
Working Toward a Just Society
Mark Kramer
Andrew Toth-Fejel
To pay or
not to pay
Oregon health plan or death plan? Whatever you call it, the
Oregon Health Plan is stirring up controversy
▼
by David Lane, Ph.D.
ome groups call it the Oregon Medic
aid Demonstration Project; others the
Oregon Health Plan. Still others call it
the Oregon Death Plan. What is it?
Why the controversy?
The Oregon Health Plan, if approved, is a
combination of state Senate bills and federal
waivers of current Medicaid requirements de
signed to increase the number of Oregonians
covered by Medicaid. The plan mandates public
assistance to any Oregonian who falls under the
federal poverty limit. Consequently, the plan
would extend benefits to an estimated 420,000
Oregonians who currently do not have any health
insurance.
Coverage of treatment for a particular diagno
sis is based on a prioritization list developed
through 47 community hearings, 12 public meet
ings, and a phone survey o f over 1000 people.
Two of the most pressing health concerns of our
community-treatment for the full spectrum of
HIV disease (including dental services) and treat
ment for breast cancer-are covered by the plan.
Other components in the plan require small
businesses to issue and renew insurance policies
to their employees. In addition, the plan increases
on insurance rates, allowing persons diagnosed
with HIV disease to continue their affordable
insurance coverage.
So far, it sounds pretty good. Over 20 organi
zations including Healthy Mothers, Healthy Ba
bies and the Oregon Medical Association support
the plan. There is support for the plan in the HIV
community. Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) issued
a statement saying the plan “represents a first step
toward universal access to health care and [CAP]
applauds the plan’s emphasis on prevention and
early therapy.” CAP goes on to say that the
“rational inclusion o f dental services, hospice
care, and ancillary services represents wonderful
progress toward complete care of the whole per
son.” So why have over 40 state and national
organizations, such as Lambda Legal Defense
and Education Fund, the AIDS Action Council,
Vanguard (an Oregon HIV Patient Advocacy
S
Community Center
planning begins
Phoenix Rising Foundation is facilitating the
process to create a lesbian and gay community
center for the Portland metro area. Currently,
Phoenix Rising volunteers are acting as ambassa
dors and inviting lesbian and gay groups to join in
the process. The board of Phoenix Rising hopes
that these groups will devise a joint plan to lease
or buy space to build a community center.
The next meeting to discuss the community
■center will be on Monday, Feb. 24, 7pm at the
Phoenix Rising office, 620 SW 5th, room 425.
People interested in attending as individuals or
representing a group should call 223-8299 for
more information.
K R A M ER & TOTH-FEJEL
A TTO R N EYS
A N on-S m oking Establishment
M ountains, Forest, S a n d y Beach,
C a v e s, Tide Pools, Trails, Suites,
Studios, Kitchens, H roplaeos.
Phoenix Rising’s commitments to the process
include: offering meeting space for a committee
of community center co-parents, secretarial ser
vices until the off-spring of the meetings is able to
provide for itself, and creating a seed fund for the
community center project
The seed money will come from the “ Phoenix
Rising Friends Festival and Ball” in the Grand
Ballroom of the Masonic Temple, Friday, Feb. 14
from 8:30pm to 12:30am. Profits after the first
$5,000 will go into a seed fund that will be held in
trust for the community center.
The Friends Ball will showcase the talents of
Howie Baggadonutz, Carol Steinel, and Bridges.
Gail Dresner will teach ballroom dancing. The
Waitrons will serve food, donated by local res
taurants and caterers, with a song and a dance.
Rubicon will perform music from the 40s through
the 80s. Dance tapes donated by local DJs will fill
in during breaks.
Evening appointments
Free parking
243-2733
( 503 ) 547-3329
. M 2 M Hwy. 101 Yaehate, O « *74M
Group), and the Radical Activist Truth Squad in
Oregon opposed the plan?
The reasons for opposition are varied. One
main concern lies with a line in the plan which
gives a low priority to the treatment o f “the very
end-stage o f HIV disease and cancer.” Specifi
cally, the term “end-stage” is not well-defined.
CAP has urged that this line be removed, as it may
“promote continued stigmatization o f those with
HIV disease.” Bob Diprete of the Office of
Medical Assistance Programs says that it is very
important to note that treatment will be covered at
all times for the infections resulting from HIV
disease and cancer.
Diprete comments that this line reference to
end-stage coverage o f HIV means that heroic
measures will not be covered. This would apply
only when, in the opinion of the physician and
with the understanding o f the patient, further
treatment of the underlying AIDS would not be
effective. Heroic measures would not be covered.
Just as important is that comfort care-whether the
hospice or home care-w ///be covered even in this
elusive “end-stage.” There are, o f course, other
concerns. Dave Robison and Darrell Bilby of
Vanguard state in a written response to CA P’s
position that the plan will “diminish the incentive
for researchers and pharmaceutical companies to
develop new drugs and therapies for HIV/AIDS
disease.” CAP acknowledges that the plan “will
not fix every problem in the current medical
system” and that careful monitoring of [the plan]
is required to protect Oregonians.” However,
CAP’s “Positive Connection” newsletter states
that the plan “can represent an evolutionary step
towards better health care for HIV infected
people.”
A decision regarding approval o f the Medic
aid waiver will be forthcoming. Sources of infor
mation about the plan are Bob Diprete and Lucy
Lord-Lippincott at the Office o f Medical Assis
tance Programs (378-5581 in Salem); Dr. David
Lane, Oregon Health Division, (229-5792); Mimi
Luther, Cascade AIDS Project (223-5907); and
Vanguard (245-6799.
Adoption and Family Law
Domestic Partnership Issues
Bankruptcy
AID S Issues
Felony and Misdemeanor Defense
Disability/Social -Security
506 SW 6th, Suite 510
Portland, O R 97204
Catbird Seat Bookstore,
Looking Class Bookstore
and
Eighth Mountain Press
invite you to an evening with
■ss?
Judith Barrington and friends
reading from an
A n In tim a te W ilderness
Tuesday, February 11
Booksigning and reception 7 -8 pm
Reading 8pm
Cup and Saucer Cafe
3566 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Bad Haircut
Good Haircut
Know the difference
281-7831
4016 N.E. Fremont
G /W
LUCXEY