LEGISLATIVE REPORT

MARCH 3, 2025

Priorities and actions for health centers this legislative session

Community Health Center Resources

ATTENDING DAY AT THE CAPITOL?

Your advocacy is critical to our collective success

As the membership association for the state’s 34 health centers, OPCA amplifies the collective voice of 470,000+ patients who rely on CHCs for essential primary, dental, and behavioral health care services. However, we cannot work effectively without your supporting stories and data which reveal both the social and economic benefits of investing in CHCs.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS  

Last week, Oregon State economists presented this quarter’s Economic and Revenue Forecast to lawmakers. The current forecast indicates that legislators will have $38 billion available for crafting the next biennium’s budget, an increase of nearly $350 million since November. While this may seem proportionately small in comparison to the overall budget, any additional revenue will be vital as there are many competing funding needs this session. 

While looming federal decisions - particularly funding freezes and tariffs - could have a tremendous impact on state finances, economists have stated that it is too early to determine the lay of the current federal landscape. However, the uncertainty has caused Senate President Ron Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and Governor Tina Kotek to call on the legislative assembly to use an abundance of caution when crafting our next state budget. The Governor urged lawmakers to focus their attention on core services, calling out her office's key policy areas: mental health and addiction, houselessness, and education.

This message of caution is likely apt as the Trump administration is heavily considering enforcing additional tariffs. Oregon is a state that heavily relies on exports, making it more vulnerable to shifts in the manufacturing sector, export markets, and international trade disputes – all of which could be influenced by current and future federal decisions. In addition, many agencies around Oregon remain uncertain how a freeze of federal grants will impact local projects and programs. As Governor Tina Kotek said in a recent press conference: “it will be quite a while before we understand the full impact of any potential restrictions on federal funding”. Meanwhile, many Republicans stated they are far less concerned with Trump’s current fiscal policies and more concerned with the stagnation of Oregon’s business sector. The state economist’s report showed that while there had been job growth in sectors like health care and education, Oregon has lost workers in manufacturing, finance, and retail. 

The final revenue forecast will be delivered on May 14th, and this will be the official forecast that lawmakers use to craft the budget for the next biennium. Even if the forecast remains stable, it is clear there are a lot of unknowns looming in the State Capitol.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Senate Bill 702

What it does:

This bill would prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco or nicotine.

Why it is important:

This bill attempts to reduce the widespread epidemic of e-cigarette and vaping related illnesses by reducing the appeal to new or first-time users. 

House Bill 2216

What it does:

This bill directs the health authority to study ways to improve pay for community health workers in both fee-for-service and managed care.

Why it is important:

Community health workers and healthcare organizations face challenges in sustainably billing for CHWs' time, especially since current codes do not capture the full scope of their work.

House Bill 2222

What it does:

This bill would establish billing codes for services rendered by mobile health care providers.

Why it is important:

This measure would help increase the pool of eligible billing codes, making it easier to get reimbursed for mobile health services delivered.

House Bill 2942

What it does:

This bill aims to ensure that pharmacists are reimbursed at the same rate as other providers when specific services related to HIV care are delivered.

Why it is important:

When providers can be reimbursed for working at the top of their license, it helps health center operations to run smoothly, which often leads to more available appointments for patients. 

The 83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly convened for the 2025 Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 21. The OPCA policy team is tracking crucial deadlines while monitoring the progress of the pieces of legislation noted above.

If you have any questions about the bills or key deadlines listed below, please contact Marty Carty, Governmental Affairs Director, mcarty@orpca.org.

Danielle Sobel

Policy & Regulatory Affairs Sr. Director

dsobel@orpca.org

Marty Carty

Governmental Affairs Director

mcarty@orpca.org

Erin Woods

Health Policy Analyst

ewoods@orpca.org