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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Absenteeism in Oregon schools prompts bill that would tie funding to attendance, not enrollment Medford police arrest gang member and his brother after short chase Territorial Seed contribution a boost for SOU food program DEA seeks to seize houses in multistate pot trafficking operation Man sentenced for shooting cat with arrow Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Medford police arrest gang member and his brother after short chase DEA seeks to seize houses in multistate pot trafficking operation Man sentenced for shooting cat with arrow Emergency services, Feb. 25 Two dogs perish in east Medford house fire Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Absenteeism in Oregon schools prompts bill that would tie funding to attendance, not enrollment Territorial Seed contribution a boost for SOU food program 200-plus Jackson County students miss vaccination deadline Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Grace to assume school governance Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Judge: Oracle must host Oregon's Medicaid system Oregon Coast fish could be from Japanese tsunami Number of Oregon wolves increases Oregon seeks court order to maintain Oracle's Medicaid-hosting contract Oregon legislature mulls improvements to state ethics, public records law Nation - World Obituaries Elaine C. 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Letters to the Editor, Feb. 25 Our View: Adjusting for unintended consequences Kathleen Parker: Twitter as America's conscience Editorials Our View: Adjusting for unintended consequences Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Voter bill secures a fundamental right Our view: Will Brown reach out to rural Oregon? Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 25 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Columns Michelle Teheux: Will we keep heading down the wrong path? 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Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Ronny Cox plays the Unitarian Fellowship SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music An all-new Rising Stars music competition kicks off this weekend Ronny Cox plays the Unitarian Fellowship Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Judge: Oracle must host Oregon's Medicaid system ... Medford police arrest gang member and his brother after short chase ... DEA seeks to seize houses in multistate pot trafficking operation ... Judge: Oracle must host Oregon's Medicaid system ... Medford police arrest gang member and his brother after short chase ... DEA seeks to seize houses in multistate pot trafficking operation ... OREGON HEALTH PLAN Oregon seeks court order to maintain Oracle's Medicaid-hosting contract Witnesses say vendor had promised it would continue to host Medicaid system Comment By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News   SALEM — Four days before a contract to host Oregon's health insurance system for low-income Oregonians is due to expire, state officials asked a judge on Tuesday to force technology contractor Oracle Inc. to continue running the system. Lawyers representing Oregon told Marion County Circuit Judge Courtland Geyer during the first of a two-day hearing that Oracle's plans to pull hosting services would result in Medicaid enrollment grinding to a halt. That, in turn, would cause "irreparable harm" to thousands of people who would not be able to enroll in Medicaid and access health services, said attorney Lisa Kaner, who represents the state. The state wants a court order forcing Oracle to extend the hosting contract. The Medicaid system runs on parts of the technology that Oracle built for the Cover Oregon health insurance exchange. That exchange portal was never fully functional, but after it failed, the state continued to use parts of it for Medicaid enrollment. The system's hardware resides on servers that are hosted by Oracle. The contract to host that hardware expires Feb. 28. Witnesses for the state told the judge that Oracle managers orally promised Oregon officials five months ago that the hosting contract would be renewed for 12 months. Oregon officials acknowledged they did not get that promise in writing. Earlier this month, Oracle informed Oregon it would not renew the contract. Kaner called Oracle's decision a "capricious change of position." Oracle's lawyers said Oracle made no binding promises to renew the contract, only a promise to negotiate about it. Oracle's attorney Robert Shwarts blamed the Oregon Health Authority, which oversees Oregon's Medicaid program, for not having a contingency plan. He also said the company isn't obligated to continue hosting, because the contract does not contain a right-to-renew clause. "While Oracle is sympathetic to the state's issue, Oracle is a commercial actor ... and it has no legal obligation to do business with the state," Shwarts said. "It's the responsibility of Oregon to take care of Oregonians and to ensure that they have a (Medicaid) system in place. The contract expires on Saturday, and they knew that for a long time." Medicaid serves more than 1 million people in Oregon, about a quarter of the state's population. Coverage is good for 12 months and then must be renewed. Oregonians can sign up for or re-enroll in Medicaid year-round. Alex Pettit, the state's chief information officer, said at the hearing that the state tried last year to extricate its Medicaid system from Oracle, but the company rejected several proposals to do that. That, he said, left the state with only one option: renewing the hosting contract. "All our overtures to disengage from Oracle were rejected," Pettit told the judge. Pettit also said it would take about a year to switch to another hosting vendor, which is why the state didn't pursue that option. By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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