Health Care Reform for
Seniors

	"The Association's highest priority this legislative session is Senate Bill 329, the Healthy Oregon Act... it can lay the groundwork for fundamentally improving  the health of Oregonians."
	--- AARP

The Healthy Oregon Act continues the reform efforts that have been ongoing since 2005 by creating a public board, the Oregon Health Trust Board.  This board will work with state agencies and gather public input on key reform concepts, finalize the concepts into the comprehensive plan and present it as legislation for consideration by the 2009 Legislature.

While a major focus of health care reform is covering the uninsured, seniors will keep their current Medicare coverage under the Healthy Oregon Act.  It is likely that, in the future, seniors will be able to purchase affordable supplemental benefits through the Oregon Health Fund established by the legislation. Though providing better access to health care is just one goal of reform, the other two goals will greatly impact seniors: lowering costs and improving quality.  Whether you live in a populated area with many choices or in a rural area with limited ones, finding information on provider quality and cost is difficult.  The Healthy Oregon Act sets in place a process to make quality and price easier to compare.

Benefits of Reforming Health Care for Seniors

• Lower costs and provide options for affordable supplemental coverage based on ability to pay
• Increased transparency and easier cost comparison for all health services
• Centralized electronic advance directive and POLST form access
• Children and grandchildren can afford coverage
• Renewed focus on primary and preventative care

Frequently Asked Questions from Seniors

How will reform lower costs?

Health care dollars aren't unlimited, so by requiring transparency of costs and quality Oregonians can make more informed decisions about their personal health.  On a larger scale, decisions should be based on community needs and should involve the community in planning before expensive medical expansions and equipment are funded.  Also, by streamlining claims paperwork every provider can save on administrative overhead.

The plan also focuses on electronic health record technology so your primary provider can send your records to a hospital or specialist with the click of a button to save you from duplicate tests.  Also, to ensure your end-of-life wishes are honored, the Healthy Oregon Act creates an online Registry where you can record your medical wishes in an advance directive in the event you cannot speak for yourself.

Will we be able to afford health reform in the future?

Any health reform plan must be sustainable into the future and the Healthy Oregon Act provides a practical path to success without over-reaching.  The key to sustainability is to lower costs and to improve quality so everyone can afford essential coverage.

As a state there is much we can do locally, but for long-term change, reform must happen in Washington DC too.  The Healthy Oregon Act examines how federal policies are preventing us from improving health care and asks our Congressional delegation to participate in public hearings and introduce legislation.

I receive Medicare, are there plans for the state to start administering my benefits?

Some health reform plans have proposed similar ideas but the Healthy Oregon Act keeps your Medicare benefits as they are.