Oregon Insurance Exchange Bill Moves toward Floor Vote, with Amendment Relating to OEBB Opt-Out

School districts will now have a role in helping the insurance exchange choose the benefit plans that will be offered

(Updated March 3rd – The House passed HB 4164 on Friday with a vote of 55-5; the bill will move to the Seante with a vote possibly scheduled on Monday March 6, 2012 (see press release here)- Liz Baxter)

In The Lund Report, Amanda Waldroupe writes about the progress of HB 4164:

March 2, 2012—After weeks of being stuck in the Legislature’s Budget Committee, the bill allowing Oregon’s health insurance exchange to proceed toward implementation is moving toward a House and Senate vote —along with a little baggage in the form of a completely unrelated amendment supported by Republicans.

The legislation is expected to easily pass both chambers.

The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction passed House Bill 4164 unanimously yesterday afternoon. The bill gives legislative approval of the Oregon health insurance exchange’s business plan, which provides financial projections and maps out how it will be ready to provide health insurance to individuals and small businesses (50 employees and under) starting in January 2014. It’s expected be a one-stop shopping place for as many as 700,000 uninsured individuals and small businesses to purchase affordable health insurance.

The Lund Report has the whole story.