Inside The Industry

Intent on Transformation

Public purchasers are positioned to lead, having a hold on 33 percent of the insurance market
March 10, 2010 -- As the largest purchaser of healthcare -- next to Medicare – public purchasers are positioned to transform the delivery system under the leadership of Barney Speight. Read More >>

Health Plan Competition Heats Up in Central Oregon

Central Oregon IPA has signed a Medicare contract with Trillium
March 10, 2010 -- The sale between Clear One Health Plans and PacificSource still awaits approval from the Oregon Insurance Division, but competition is already expected to heat up in central Oregon when Trillium Community Health Plan enters the fray. Read More >>

Governor Wields Final Say on Psychologist Bill

No matter what he decides, this issue will come back to haunt the 2011 Oregon Legislature next February
March 4, 2010 -- The battle lines have been drawn, and now it’s up to Gov. Kulongoski to determine whether psychologists should be able to prescribe psychotropic drugs. Read More >>

Standard Joined Regence Against Ballot Measures

Together both insurance companies spent $105,000 to defeat Ballot Measures 66 and 67 in a special election
March 4, 2010 – Regence BlueCross BlueShield wasn’t the only insurer that made a financial contribution to try and defeat Ballot Measures 66 and 67. Read More >>

Regence Wins First Value-Based Insurance Contract

Evraz, Inc. NA, formerly known as Oregon Steel Mills, will offer the plan to its employees next January
February 25, 2010 – John Worcester is convinced that a value-based health insurance plan will not only reduce healthcare costs, but create healthier lives for his employees. Read More >>

Psychologists Win Prescribing Rights

Not surprisingly, closing one of the Oregon legislature’s most longstanding “scope-of-practice” issues still feels unresolved
February 25, 2010 -- Beginning in July of next year, licensed psychologists may gain the right to prescribe certain mental health drugs under a bill that passed the Oregon House and Senate this week. Everything hinges on whether Gov. Kulongoski decides to veto the measure. Read More >>

Salem Hospital Laying Off Workers

Officials say cuts target managers, in an effort to keep staff for patient care
From the Statesman Journal.com
February 19, 2010 -- Salem Health and its Salem Hospital have eliminated at least 43 full-time equivalent positions, and more employees are working shorter weeks. Read More >>

LifeWise and Legacy Continue Contract Talks

The hospital system and insurer now have until April 30th to reach an agreement
February 23, 2010 -- Legacy Health System and LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon appear closer to reaching an agreement after being embroiled in a contract dispute for the past three months. Read More >>

Oregon School for the Blind is Going on the Market

Western Oregon University is interested along with Salem Hospital, Willamette University and a private development company with family money in Portland.
February 18, 2010 – By early May, 8.33 acres of prime real estate in Salem should be on the market, according to state officials. Read More >>

Small Businesses Face Brunt of Insurance Hikes

State regulators approve rate requests for Regence and HealthNet, while other requests are pending
February 11, 2010 -- The Oregon Insurance Division approved a 16 percent rate increase on Regence individual health plans renewing after April and a 12.2 percent increase on HealthNet small group plans. Read More >>
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