Oregon Public Broadcasting

Cuts to the Oregon Health Plan in 2003 led thousands of uninsured patients to the emergency room.

That's according to a study released Tuesday by Oregon Health & Science University.

The Oregon Health Plan covers thousands of Oregonians who could otherwise not afford health care.  But five years ago, budget woes cut 52,000 people from the plan.

Dr. Bob Lowe is the director of OHSU's Center for Policy and Research.  He said one alarming aspect was that psychiatric visits to the emergency room doubled.

Bob Lowe: "Part of that is simply that these are some of the most vulnerable of the vulnerable.  And when you have a patient with psychiatric problems who loses their access to primary care through the Oregon Health Plan they are really in trouble."

Lowe said the psychiatric visits could be attributed to OHP Standard cutting its outpatient support to the mentally ill.  

Lowe said the OHP lottery to enroll more people in the Health Plan is "a step in the right direction."  He said the state is doing a good job with the funds it has.