Public Policy Meeting
Measure 101 - Healthcare Provider Tax
Presenting this important topic will be: Representative Karin Power on the YES side and Representative Julie Parrish on the NO side.
Measure 101 will be the subject of a special election on January 23rd. A "Yes" vote will preserve a 1.5% provider and health care insurance premium tax passed by the legislature during the 2017 session. A "No" vote will repeal the tax. It is stated that at stake is between $222 and $333 million of state funding that is directed toward the state's Medicaid program - also known as the Oregon Health Plan - which funds health services for low income Oregonians.
The "YES" side claims: Preserving the 1.5% tax on providers and health insurance premiums keeps funding intact for the Oregon Health Plan. Proponents claim that as many as 350,000 Oregonians risk losing their health insurance if the tax is not preserved. In addition, keeping the tax intact will reduce uncompensated care and therefore reduce the costs that are shifted onto commercial and private ratepayers.
The "NO" side claims: will likely come from small business owners who don't appreciate a 1.5% tax ($145 million) on their already expensive insurance premiums. They observe the mismanagement of the Oregon Health Plan - including over 55,000 ineligible recipients being allowed to collect benefits and more recently, that the state overpaid $74 million for Medicaid services - and oppose higher taxes to fund a health care program that lacks integrity. Opponents argue that there is more than enough money in state government to account for the $222 - $333 million without requiring small employers to pay $145 million in additional taxes to keep the Medicaid program whole.
Brown bag lunch event. Please provide your own food and beverage.
Date and Time
Monday Jan 8, 2018
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM PST
Meetings are typically the first Monday of the month, brown bag lunch.
Location
Clackamas Fire Mt. Scott Station
9339 SE Causey Ave
Happy Valley, OR 97086