HB 4147
Requires the Oregon Health Authority to collaborate with the Department of Human Services and the Employment Department to submit an annual report that provides information about employers that employ 500 or more employees in this state and have employees who are medical assistance recipients.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
40%
Oppose
60%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to collaborate with the Department of Human Services and the Employment Department to create an annual report. This report will identify employers with 500 or more employees in Oregon who have employees receiving Medical Assistance. The report will include details about the number of employees and dependents receiving Medical Assistance, the cost of providing that care, and wage data. The goal is to provide data to help understand the relationship between large employers and the state’s Medicaid program.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 4147 believe the bill's provisions will shed light on crucial information for policymakers to inform future healthcare decisions in Oregon. The annual report required by the dash-2 amendment aims to reveal how many Medicaid recipients are workers or dependents, as well as the public cost of covering them, providing valuable insights into the state's healthcare system. Proponents argue that this data will help policymakers make informed decisions about workforce policy, health coverage, and economic development, ultimately benefiting working-class individuals and low- and middle-income families who are disproportionately affected by healthcare cost-shifting. By increasing transparency and accountability, HB 4147 is seen as a crucial step towards improving access to affordable healthcare for all Oregonians.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 4127 express concerns about its fiscal responsibility and potential impact on state finances. They argue that the bill's requirement to reimburse nonprofit reproductive health providers ineligible for federal Medicaid dollars is fiscally irresponsible, as it forces the Oregon Health Authority to use state funds to cover costs not covered by federal funding. Additionally, opponents question the clarity of collecting employer data on public medical assistance, citing federal law restrictions and concerns about the accuracy and completeness of such data collection. Furthermore, some that creating new agencies is not a viable solution to budget deficits and that the bill's proposed data collection from employers could be hindered by federal law, raising questions about its effectiveness in addressing rising healthcare costs.
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