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The Oregon Health Plan
B t J ane C i mmins -
(Chair, Oregon Association o f Hos
pitals and Health Systems Board and
Administrator, Legacy Meridian Park
Hospital)
In recent weeks, I have traveled
throughout parts o f this beautiful state
to advocate for an issue that is of
critical importance to every Orego
nian: the Oregon Health Plan And if
Oregon’s future is indeed to be a
healthy one, this plan should be em
braced and understood by everyone
who cares about our state and its
destiny.
Why do 1 want Oregonians to
care about this issue? Because 1 be
lieve our viability as a state depends
on it. In 1993, Oregon spent $10 bil
lion while nationally l5% ofourGross
Domestic Product went to health care.
These numbers make it imperative
that we control the cost of health care.
And, as costs continue to grow, so do
the numbers of uninsured Oregon ians.
Today, more than 600,000 citizens
have either inadequate or no health
insurance. These are compelling fig
ures; this is a compelling issue.
Is there a health care crisis in
Oregon? Absolutely. Just ask those
people in our communities who are
private providers, employers, or pub
lic administrators working diligently
to deliver health services to our citi
zens. Or, ask a single, working mother
whose children desperately need
health care.
Discussions about the Oregon
Health Plan are frequently offered as
the nation debates a federal health
plan. Our plan, however, has a con
text unique to Oregon. It is designed
to control Oregon’s health care des
tiny through fiscally responsible ac
tion. Its goal is to provide universal
health care insurance through a pub-
lic/private partnership that assures
access to coverage for all Oregonians.
Debate about the Oregon plan
began during the 1987 legislature.
Two years later, in 1989, the original
legislative package consisted of three
bills that combined methods to pro
Howard MacAllister of Milwaukie waits in the reception area of the Physicians and Surgeons' Portland Clinic in downtown Portland. Health
care for all Oregonians is the aim of the Oregon Health Plan.
To pay the state’s share of $65 million
vide health insurance coverage for ditions.
The next two legislative sessions, for the expanded Medicaid program
the poor, the working uninsured and
the medically uninsurable. SB 27 ex in 1991 and 1993, amended that plan called for in the Oregon Health Plan,
panded Medicaid to include all indi significantly. 1991 offered SB 1076, the last legislature approved a general
viduals and families earning less than which reformed the health insurance fund contribution and a 10-cent per
100 percent o f federal poverty in market for small firms with 3-25 pack increase in the state cigarette
employees. In 1993, HB 5530 pro tax.
come guidelines.
Today, the plan keeps Orego
SB 935 established tax incen vided the enabling legislation with a
tives for small businesses to provide structure and process for answering nians healthy by doing five importatnt
things; moving toward universal cov
health insurance to their employees key policy issues on the plan.
erage; defining a basic benefit pack
The
Oregon
Health
is
financed
and dependents through an employer
age; reforming the small group insur
by
a
combination
of
federal
and
state
mandate. SB 534 created an insur
ance market; offering major cost-con
dollars.
Oregon's
share
for
the
cur
ance pool to subsidize coverage for
tainment; and providing a strong, bi
rent
biennium
is
$436
million
out
ot
a
individuals who were uninsurable
partisan
consensus on health care re
because of pre-existing medical con total Medicaid budget of $ 1.2 billion.
Nutritionist Offers Advice For Healthy And
Enjoyable Restaurant Dining
Free Health Lectures
O ffered By Portland
Adventist
The following free programs during September and October are open
to the community . They will be presented at Portland Adventist Medical
Center, 10123 SE Market Street unless another location is listed. No
preregistration is required, unless otherw ise indicated. Fore more informa
tion call 256-4000 (toll free from most areas in Portland/Vancouver).
FREE HEALTH LECTURES:
Leg Pain: Sign of Aging or a Symptom of Vascular Disease
Free Non-Fasting Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Screening. Prereg
istration required.
The Importance of Diagnosis and Treatment - Mark Hart, MD
Cardiologist.
HELP FOR HERNIAS:
In this seminar you will learn:
•
What is a hemia?
•
How can hernias be prevented?
•
What treatment options are available?
•
Newer ways to treating hernias with mesh, keyhole incisions and
laparoscopes which provide reduced postoperative pain, earlier return to
work fewer complications and lower reoccurance rate.
FREE RELIGIOUS LECTURES:
Walla Walla College Seminar Series - This four part seminar looks at
issues in the book of Daniel, focusing on the question of relevance for
today. Special attention is given to the prophetic chapters of Daniel 7,8 and
9 from both historical and contemporary perspectives.
SUPPORT GROUPS:
Ex-smokers Support Group - Stopping smoking is a process, not an
event. Recovery from nicotine addiction is not something you do alone.
Meet with other ex-smokers for support.
Heart Talk - This monthly support group for heart patients and their
families is an ideal time to share concerns and learn methods to cope with
the effects o f heart disease
W'omen with Cancer - This group prov ides education and support and
increases coping skills. C all 251 -6301
SENIOR HEALTH SEMINAR:
Taking the Pills & Learning the Skills - When your doctor prescribes
a pill or medication, do you know the right question to ask'’ How familiar
are you with potential problems with taking multiple medications? These
and other questions will be answered by Mary Jo Hubert, registered
pharmacist, and Eric Kaplan, pharmaceutical representative
Secure Horizons - Learn about the health plan and Medicare and how
the two work together for maximum coverage
Aids Project Continues HIV Testing Program
As part o f the Speak To Your
Brothers Project. Cascade Aids Project
continues a HIV testing program for
gay and bisexual m en. The program is
run in conjunction with MCHD, and
offers confidential and anonymous
testing every Tuesday evening, 6:00-
1
form.
Within the context of the plan
there are five components that work
each day to deliver health care to all
Oregonians:
The Oregon Medical Insurance
Pool iffor Oregonians who have been
refused insurance due to preexisting
medical conditions.
The Small Employer Health In
surance created reforms that affect
the health plans offered to firms with
3 to 25 eligible employees.
The Oregon Medical Assistance
Program offers health care benefits
for low income Oregonians through
Medicaid.
The Employer mandate requires
that all firms eventually provide cov
erage or pay into a state fund through
a payroll tax system for each em
ployee. Under current law this man
date begins on March 31, 1997 for
companies with 26 or more employ
ees and on January 1, 1998 for those
with 25 or less employees.
The Insurance Pool Governing
Board provides a voluntary small
business option for firms with 1 to 25
employees not currently offering cov
erage.
These programs mean important
thing citizens. Today 3,600 Orego
nians are already a part of the medical
insurance pool. The small business
tax credit program has served 7,100
employers. Medicaid, which covers
approximately 250,000 low income
citizens, has already added 81,000
Oregonians to its coverage.
The Basic Health Care Package
covers all major diseases ot women,
children and men. It includes all pre
ventive and screening service. And it
provides services such as hospice,
prescription drugs, most transplants,
routine physical and mammongrams.
It also stresses prevention with ser
vices such as maternity and newborn
care, immunizations, well-child ex
ams and preventive dental care.
T h a t’s the plan today. But
what about tom orrow ? What about
the health future o f O regon? Can
we keep the m om entum o f the
O regon Health Plan alive as the
1995 legislative session loom s?
Can we afford the Oregon Health
Plan?
This is a better question: can we
afford not to have the Oregon Health
Plan? I believe the answer is a re
sounding no. Now more than ever
Oregon needs this plan as a way to
provide universal coverage, contain
costs and assure continued quality
health care services for all Orego
nians. These important goals for all of
us. This is our call to action.
8:00pm, at Cascade AIDS Project,
620 SW 5th Avenue, 3rd floor, Port
land,. It is planned that the program
will eventually expand to Thursday
evenings and two Saturdays each
month For more information, call
Cascade AIDS Project a, 223-5907.
»
D ining outside the hom e is
not only an enjoyable social o c
casion, but also a necessity for
m illio n s o f A m erican s w hose
hectic lifestyles leave little tim e
or inclination to slave over a hot
stove. In fact, 1993 was the first
year that A m ericans spent more
m oney dining out than eating at
hom e.
N u tritio n ist G eorgia Kostas,
MPH, RD, offers p ractical ad
vice for finding foods that taste
good and are good for you when
dining aw ay from hom e. Kostas.
who is director o f nutrition at the
C ooper C linic at The C ooper
A erobics C enter in D allas and
author o f The B alancing Act:
N utrition and W ight G uide, cau
tions health -co n scio u s individu
als to eat low -fat, healthy foods
both at hom e and in restaurants.
And she says m any restaurants
are helping by expanding their
m enus to offer healthier, go o d
tasting choices.
K ostas offers the follow ing
advice for m aintaining a healthy
diet when eating out.
TIPS FOR ORDERING IN
RESTAURANTS:
• Stick to h ealth y entrees
sim ilar to what you eat at home.
A void s p lu rg in g on h ig h -fa t
foods ju st because y o u 're dining
out.
• O rd e r m e a t b ro ile d or
baked. C hoose poultry (w ithout
the skin), veal, fish and seafood,
or lean cuts o f beef, such as a
filet, top sirloin or flank.
• D o n ’t hesitate to ask how
foods on the menu are prepared,
or to request that foods on the
m enu be prepared to suit your
diet.
• O rder w ater, tea, diet soft
drinks, club soda or coffee. Lim it
drinks that are high in fat and
calories, such as m ilkshakes, ice
cream drinks, coffee d rinks with
ice cream and regular soft drinks.
a d v ic e on f o o d s t o
A V O ID :
• To m aintain a low -fat diet,
av o id m enu item s th at fried ,
cream ed or made with thick g ra
v ies, ch eese sau c es or su g ar
glazes. If you have no choice,
rem ove the crust, push the sauce
aside or ju st eat h alf the regular
portion. O rder sauces and salad
d ressin g s on the side and use
them sparingly.
• Be careful o f item s that
may seem low in fat, but actually
are not These include to rtilla
chips, soups m ade with cheese
or cream , and dishes m ade with
nuts.
a d d it io n a l a d v ice fo r
the “ edge” o ff your appetite.
• Frequent the same restau
rant or chain when possible. A
regular custom er knows the menu
and know s what foods can be
prepared special w ays to avoid
extra fat and calories.
• A lcohol can be part o f a
CANTALOUPE
S w eet fla v o rfu l w h o le m elons
‘ CUT MELONS
24C LB.
POUND
F.F.V. COOKIES
•NUT MALLOWS ‘ TANGO
• ROYAL DAINTY
•REGAL GRAHAMS
DINING IN RESTAURANTS:
• D on’t skip m eals, and never
arrive at a restaurant “ s ta rv in g .'
or you will probably overeat.
Snack on an apple or another
healthy food beforehand to take
12 to 16 oz
PKG.
NO W
FOR
EACH
FROZEN YOGURT
ÜMPÖÜA
ENROLL
healthy diet when consum ed in
m oderation (no m ore than 10
drinks per w eek). But be careful:
Although som e alcoholic drinks,
such as b ee r, co n tain no fat
gram s, once the alcohol is m e
tabolized in the body, it is con
verted to fat.
F A L
P rovidence M ontessori S chool
UMPQUA
NONFAT
$Ä89
HALF GALLON
CARTON
*
Ages 214 to 6
M o n d a y - Friday • 7 a.m. - 6 p.m .
EACH
NEW! Morning Half-day Montessori Class
• Experienced staff • Nutritious lunch snacks • RN
• Diversity among children & staff • Creative Movement Class
8 7 2 -2 4 0 0
Providence Child Center • 830 N.E. 47th Avenue
wt TliSIITVt Tut
nil JIT TO I IMII
OUANIIIIIS
The FRIENDLIEST STORES IN TOWN since IOOH
SPECIALS EFFECTIVE TUESDAY through SUNDAY
AUGUST 16 Ihiouqtl 21, 1994
MEMBER OE UNITEO GROCERS
F O n Y O lin NTATTFST K IF N O W S S T O IIF O i l
f,r.Q 5 2 2 0