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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016 State weighs vendors for health insurance market software State has used federal platform since Cover Oregon failed The state and technology com- pany Oracle, which built the Cover Oregon system, are still engaged in a legal battle over who is to blame for the problems. By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau Oregon insurers can con- tinue to use the federal insur- ance exchange free of charge through the end of this year but in 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to begin charging insur- ance companies a fee of 1.5 percent of premiums in order to use the federal platform in Oregon. The rate could still increase in future years to the federal government’s origi- nal proposal of 3 percent of premiums, according to Lisa Morawski, public information and communications direc- tor for the state Department of Consumer and Business Services, which handles the state’s insurance exchange. SALEM — Oregon is considering proposals by four companies to provide a new software platform for the state’s health insurance marketplace. The state uses the federal insurance exchange, Health- care.gov, and state of¿cials began to explore other options after the federal government decided to begin charging insurance companies a fee to use the exchange in Oregon. Oregon has used the fed- eral platform since its own insurance portal, Cover Ore- gon, failed to launch in 2013. Free until 2017 On Monday, however, Morawski said the state will not rush to decide whether to make another attempt at launching its own state insur- ance exchange. “We’re going to be on healthcare.gov for sure for 2017,” Morawski said. The state also charges insurers a monthly fee of $9.66 per insurance plan mem- ber, although the state has pro- posed lowering the fee to $6 next year because employees expect higher enrollment will continue to raise more money than anticipated. The state uses the money to pay for every- thing from publicity for the insurance exchange to technol- ogy services and legal costs, according to a document from the Department of Consumer and Business Services. Four companies show interest Four technology compa- nies submitted proposals to provide the platform for Ore- gon’s exchange by the dead- line of noon Friday. hCentive worked on insur- ance marketplaces for Arkan- sas, Massachusetts, Colorado, New York and the federal government, according to the company’s website. Vimo, Inc., which does busi- ness as GetInsured, worked on insurance exchanges in Cal- ifornia, New Mexico, Idaho and Mississippi, according to the company’s website. Softheon, Inc. also worked on the Massachusetts exchange, according to com- pany CEO Eugene Sayan and Michael Hendershop, the com- pany’s business development director for state and federal operations. It was not clear whether the fourth company that responded to the request for proposals, New Fields Tech- nologies, LLC, had worked on other state health insurance exchanges. The Department of Consumer and Business Ser- vices declined to release a copy of the proposals until after the agency issues a notice of intent to award a contract and allows a window of time for the com- panies to protest the decision. State contracting employ- ees at the Department of Administrative Services are reviewing the proposals to make sure they met the min- imum requirements, and the companies will present their proposals to an evalua- tion committee in late March through early April, according to a timeline from the Depart- ment of Consumer and Busi- ness Services. No deadline for switch There is no deadline for the director of the Department of Consumer and Business Ser- vices to decide whether to stick with the federal exchange or go with one of the vendors, Morawski said. “If we decide to stay with healthcare.gov, which is one of the options that might hap- pen, we wouldn’t have to do anything,” Morawski said. “If we decided to contract with a vendor, we would need to go through the (legislative) bud- get approval process.” In that case, the director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services could ask lawmakers for approval in September. The Department of Consumer and Business Ser- vices will consult with law- makers and a newly formed Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee before deciding whether to stick with the federal exchange platform or contract for a new state exchange, Morawski wrote in an email. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Warrenton City Commission Candidates ¿le for primary election offers no comment on LNG The Daily Astorian By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — It was the first City Commis- sion meeting since a pub- lic hearings officer denied Oregon LNG’s applica- tions to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Skipanon Peninsula while approving a small seg- ment of pipeline that would serve the terminal. Oregon LNG has not yet appealed the termi- nal decision, City Attor- ney Hal Snow said. But, since the energy company is expected to appeal fairly soon and the matter would come before the commis- sion, Mayor Mark Kujala made it clear Tuesday night that commissioners would not comment on the matter. “The commission is remaining objective and unbiased so that we can hear that appeal, as we can anticipate that one might come,” Kujala said. “We want to make sure that all of us are able to listen to it fairly, so we won’t be mak- ing any comments.” One person who did comment, however, was David Zunkel, a Warren- ton resident who wanted to get his views on the record before he left on a trip to Europe. “I am one of many War- renton residents, as well as people in the state and region, who are heart- ened by the decision of the city-appointed hearings officer, (Daniel) Kearns, to deny the land use appli- cation by Oregon LNG for the LNG terminal on the banks of the Columbia River, our priceless scenic and natural resource,” Zun- kel said. Voters will decide on two seats on the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners and an open judgeship in the Cir- cuit Court during the May 17 primary. Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin ¿led and is running unopposed. One county mea- sure is on the ballot this year for a ¿ve-year local tax renewal for fairgrounds operation. In addition to county races, the primary election features contests for president, con- gressional and state legislative seats, governor and other state- wide seats and judge positions. The ¿ling deadline was Tuesday. Thursday is the deadline for candidates to ¿le statements for the voter’s pamphlet. The county voter’s pamphlet will be inserted in the state voter’s pamphlet for the May election. Candidates for county of¿ces who have ¿led Circuit Court Judge, Posi- tion 2: David Goldthorpe, of War- renton, is a senior deputy dis- trict attorney; Dawn McIntosh, of Gear- hart, is a lawyer who works for McIntosh & Long in Gearhart; Ronald Woltjer, of Astoria, is a municipal court judge for Warrenton, Seaside and Can- non Beach. Sheriff: Tom Bergin, of Gearhart, has served as sheriff since Jan- uary 2005. Board of Commissioners, District 2: John Dunzer, of Seaside, has run unsuccessfully for the Port of Astoria, the Seaside City Council and the County Commission. He has experi- ence in engineering, business and teaching. Sarah Nebeker, of Gear- hart, has served as county com- missioner since May 2012. Board of Commissioners, District 4: Kathleen Sullivan, of Astoria, works the front desk of the Cannery Pier Hotel. She has served on the Astoria Bud- get Committee and on the Asto- ria Visual Arts Board. Warrenton turns to public for ideas, feedback on goal setting By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — The City Commission is inviting the public to weigh in on a tentative list of 2016 goals, all of which carried over from last year. At a work session Tues- day, commissioners said they will continue to focus on improving and certifying the city’s levees, in part to lower flood insurance rates; pursuing downtown Urban Renewal Agency projects and marina improvements; maximizing business and industrial development; and remedying development restraints in Hammond. Soon, the city will post these priorities on Warren- ton’s homepage and let com- munity members comment on them. The commission- ers hope the feedback will help them refine their goals, expand on them and perhaps add new ones. “They may have some- thing we haven’t thought of,” Commissioner Tom Dyer said. “It would be nice to have input.” Commissioners Henry Balensifer and Rick Newton agreed that some of the city’s goals — maximizing devel- opment, for instance — are better thought of as guide- lines for the city’s long- term vision. Public input could help the commission- ers plant specific goalposts to measure their progress. “We’re going to ask them for suggestions so we can distill them and come out with actual finite goals that we can reach out and touch,” Newton said. Kujala, however, said that keeping city goals somewhat broad allows for flexibility as the commission moves through the year. Later on, the city will revisit the goals with the community’s ideas in mind. “If we’re really off the mark here, I’d like to hear it,” Kujala said. In other business Tues- day, the City Commission, during a regular meeting, adopted an ordinance that prohibits attracting and feed- ing animals not normally domesticated. These animals include elk, deer, bears, wolves, foxes, cougars, coyotes, feral cats, groundhogs, opos- sums, raccoons, skunks and turkeys. A violation will result in a minimum fine of $50 and a maximum fine of $250 for each offense. TO ATTE N D : Recent shrinking of Washington park glaceiers: What does it mean? Jon Riedel Fo r M em bers: D in n er & L ecture:$25 ea . L ecture on ly: n o ch a rge Fo r No n -M em bers: D in n er & L ecture: $35 ea . L ecture on ly: $15 ea . Appetizers w ill be a va ila ble a t 6 p.m . D in n er w ill be served a t 6:30 p.m . T h e spea ker w ill begin a fter th e din n er service is com plete a n d n on - din n er m em bers a n d guests of th e a udien ce ta ke th eir sea ts. F orum to be h eld a t th e CM H Com m un ity Cen ter a t 2021 E xch a n ge St., Astoria . LIM ITE S EATIN D G RESER VE SPACE TO Y D O U R AY ! March 15 Columbia Fo r um FOR RESERVATION OR TO JOIN COLUMBIA FORUM CONTACT: Ho lly La rkin s a t 503.325.3211 ext. 227 o r fo ru m @ d a ilya sto ria n .co m by M a rch 11, 2016 Columbia Forum is sponsored by: The D a ily Asto ria n • Cra ft3 • O SU Sea fo o d L a b o ra to ry • K M U N -F M Ca n n ery Pier H o tel & Sp a Working for a strong Community We make a difference together Each year, CMH caregivers give more than 10,000 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars in donations to our commu- nity. CMH raises money each year for worthy community organizations, including United Way, American Cancer So- ciety and March of Dimes. Our caregivers are little league coaches, volunteer ireighters, board members and more. At home and at work, our caregivers are dedicated to serving our neighbors. hat is why CMH ofers many programs designed to help those who are uninsured or under-insured. We provide the healthcare you need, when you need it. People Centered, Quality Driven & Service Focused. &YDIBOHF4USFFU"TUPSJB0SFHPOt www.columbiamemorial.org
