Oregon Public Broadcasting


Oregon’s health care system is preparing to enact the changes Congress approved in the new health care bill. 

The Oregon Health Authority started preliminary work on a health care exchange some time ago.

State officials say they’re ready for the federal government to begin awarding grants for the exchanges later this year.

But questions remain about that and other new ideas in the House bill. 

The Department of Consumer and Business Services needs at least a few weeks to plan enforcement of new rules protecting consumers with pre-existing conditions. 



Still, health care advocates are celebrating.

Jerry Cohen is the executive director of AARP of Oregon. He said he was especially pleased to hear Congressman Peter Defazio had secured a federal promise to address Medicare reimbursement discrepancies. 



"We do believe that if Oregon can prove our physicians and our health providers and hospitals can show significant cost savings then we should be recognized for it," he said.



The discrepancy has resulted in many Oregon doctors refusing new Medicare patients.