Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Suit seeks to overturn Medford's pot ban ... Kids learn life lessons in preparation for auction at Jackson County Fair ... One dam at a time ... Suit seeks to overturn Medford's pot ban ... Kids learn life lessons in preparation for auction at Jackson County Fair ... One dam at a time ... HEALTH CARE Oregon underestimated Medicaid expansion price tag Comment By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press Posted Jul. 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press Posted Jul. 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM » Social News SALEM — Amid the embarrassing collapse of Cover Oregon, the state's failed health insurance enrollment website, then-Gov. John Kitzhaber and lawmakers found solace in an unrelated success — a massive hike in enrollment in the Oregon Health Plan. The Health Plan is Oregon's Medicaid program, and as hundreds of thousands of people became newly eligible last year under President Barack Obama's health care law, most of them signed up. In the first year, enrollment was 73 percent higher than anticipated, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority. The bill will be soon be coming due, however, as the state begins sharing the costs. The Affordable Care Act said the federal government would cover 100 percent of medical costs only until 2017, when its share would begin dropping to 90 percent. THE ENROLLMENT A 2013 report commissioned by the state projected that 222,700 people would take advantage of the expanded Medicaid access in its first year, 2014. The final tally was much higher: 386,000 people. The increase was likely due in part to a simplified "fast track" enrollment process that federal officials approved for Oregon, though several other states also saw enrollment exceed expectations. Oregon got permission to use income information already on file through other public assistance programs, providing a quick and easy way for many eligible people to sign up. And as Cover Oregon failed to work, the Kitzhaber administration aggressively promoted the fast-track option. The administration hoped to boost Medicaid enrollment numbers to make up for the paltry enrollment in private insurance through Cover Oregon. THE COSTS The 2013 report estimated that the Medicaid expansion would cost the state $217 million in the 2017-2019 biennium, the first full two-year budget cycle in which the state begins shouldering some of the costs. The Oregon Health Authority now projects it will cost $369 million, about 70 percent more. By 2020, Medicaid's share of the total state budget is projected to grow from the current 6.2 percent to nearly 10 percent. The figures assume the federal government doesn't change the state's share of the price tag and that Oregon doesn't take other actions to reduce the cost of Medicaid, such as reducing payments to doctors. HOW TO PAY Oregon gets a big chunk of Medicaid funding from a tax on hospitals. The tax is matched by federal dollars, some of which ultimately flows back to hospitals for treating Medicaid patients. Increasing the tax could help cover part of the budget shortfall, said Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, co-chair of the Legislature's budget committee. Ultimately, Devlin said, Oregon needs the improving economy to get more people off the Medicaid rolls. By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press Posted Jul. 19, 2015 at 5:55 PM » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501