KATU Oregon hires lawyers, issues demands for potential Cover Oregon Suit

After $250 Million How Much More Do You Think Oregon Will Spend on Lawyers and How Long Will It Take? Portland law firm Markowitz Herbold Glade & Mehlhaf PC has been paid $352,000 so far to prepare for a potential lawsuit and their contract now allows them to bill the state up to $2.5 million. The state has retained two Washington, D.C., lawyers to help Oregon with an investigation by a U.S. House committee. A Portland criminal defense attorney also was hired in response to an investigation by the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office, according to the documents, which include contracts and billing summaries obtained under Oregon's public records law. The state also turned to Portland attorney Robert Weaver, a former federal prosecutor who has defended a number of high-profile criminal defendants, including figure skater Tonya Harding. Weaver is representing the state and its current and former employees in a federal criminal investigation. The U.S. Attorney's Office has issued subpoenas to state agencies seeking, among other things, communications between 10 officials involved in developing and overseeing the Cover Oregon website.
www.katu.com/politics/Oregon-hires-lawyers-issues-....html

Cover Oregon's Aaron Patnode is 4th director in 6 months

How About Hiring A Native Oregonian and a Republican just as a Good Will Measure! DURHAM — The Cover Oregon board unanimously voted to hire a Kaiser Permanente official to become the state health exchange's permanent executive director Thursday.
Pending contract negotiations, Aaron Patnode, who is responsible for Kaiser Permanente's implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Oregon and Washington, will take over an organization under immense scrutiny, turbulence and uncertainty. Patnode has worked for Kaiser Permanente since 2009, in various roles. He also has experience in public relations and hospital administration. He has a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston College and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota.
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/health/2014/06...80187

Governor Kitzhaber Who Is Going To Prison Over CoverOregon Fraud?

It's time to admit the failure of Cover Oregon and protect the taxpayers from further losses

Report: it will take $45M and almost two years to ‘fix’ Cover Oregon. That’s under current conditions (keep the database, keep current vendor Oracle), at least according to the Deloitte Development report that the state of Oregon commissioned on how to get from under the horrible state exchange disaster inflicted on Oregon by Governor John Kitzhaber and his fellow Democrats. Reading the report, it looks like Deloitte’s recommendation would be that Oregon simply cut Cover Oregon loose and join the federal exchange. As the Oregonian noted: Oregon could hook up to the federal exchange far sooner and for a fraction of the cost, according to the report obtained by The Oregonian. A hybrid solution mixing the federal exchange and an unfinished Oracle-based small-business section of the exchange would also be faster than sticking with the current plan, as well as cheaper.
www.redstate.com/2014/04/05/cover-oregon-john-kitz...hange

Oregon Drops Proposed Ban on Treats Laced With Marijuana

The Oregon Health Authority had threatened to be a buzzkill when it came to medical marijuana dispensaries selling candies, cakes and cookies and other munchies seasoned with pot. But according to the Associated Press, the agency has backed off that proposal, instead focusing a ban on any products that might entice minors. That means nothing brightly colored or formed in the shape of animals, toys or candies. The rules also require marijuana products to be sold in child-proof containers free of cartoons or bright colors.
www.wweek.com/portland/blog-31438-oregon_drops_pro....html

We Need Dennis Richardson For Governor More Than Ever!

I'd like to remind people that "Doctor" Kitzhaber practiced emergency room medicine exactly long enough to complete his residency, and then ran for office. He hasn't practiced medicine in any meaningful way since 1978, when he was first elected to the Oregon House. He was elected to the Oregon Senate in 1980 and worked his way up to Senate President before running for Governor in 1994 - creating the Oregon Health Plan along the way. In between his 2 Governor gigs, he did not return to medical practice, but founded the Archimedes Movement, a liberal political think tank with a goal of imposing socialized medicine. So basically he was an actual doctor for 5 years, but a political hack whose only record of accomplishment was creating unsustainable medical welfare programs for 34 years. So there's that.

Oregon increasing its appetite for federal money!!

The money it gets from the feds rose to 6.1 percent — to $16.4 billion — in 2013-15, as compared to 2011-13. The Oregon Health Authority got the largest chunk, about $7.6 billion. Part of that — roughly $1.2 billion — is for the state’s expanded Medicaid program, a joint effort with the federal government. By 2016, the feds are expected to fund the program in full. The Department of Human Services also got a large slice, about $6.3 billion; the rest was divided between various government agencies — about $500,000 for public safety and $1.5 billion for education.
oregoncatalyst.com/26907-oregon-increasing-appetit....html

Cover Oregon Oregon reaches 'transition agreement' with Oracle!!

Oracle Corp. delivered an ultimatum to the state of Oregon last week and it has paid off handsomely. After Oracle threatened to walk away from the state's health care exchange with the IT project still unfinished, the state agreed to pay $24 million to the company on Monday and will pay them another $19.9 million by Thursday. Oregon announced today it has reached a "transition agreement" with the company. Oracle agreed to continue to work on the exchange. In paying the $43.9 million to Oracle this week, the state is not giving up its right to go to court and try to recover that sum, said Cover Oregon spokesman Michael Cox. For that matter, the state is reserving its right to litigate over the entire sum billed by Oracle for its IT work, which has now reached a mind-boggling $160 million.
www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2014/03/cover_...river

Cover Oregon says 700 have enrolled online??

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A Cover Oregon official says insurance agents and community groups have been able to enroll about 700 people in health coverage entirely online.
Chief Information Officer Aaron Karjala revealed the number to a state legislative committee on Friday.
Cover Oregon launched its website for a limited group of experts earlier this week, more than four months after it was originally scheduled to be operational.
There's still no date for when the system will launch to the general public. Karjala says developers are regularly testing and fixing elements of the system. Individuals working without an agent or certified expert can continue to apply, but Cover Oregon staff will have to process a portion of their application by hand.
www.katu.com/politics/local/Cover-Oregon-says-700-....html

Officials explain $1Billion Dollar Budget Hole!!

Oregon’s Health Authority is facing a $1 billion hole in its next two-year budget, a gap that Republicans view as disastrous but Democrats say is solvable. Republicans worry the looming budget gap for health programs like Medicaid could mean cutting services and/or raising taxes in the 2015-17 budget, while Democrats think the hole could be closed without needing either. Why does the budget gap exist in the first place?"We budgeted to a $3.5 billion gap in 2011,” Buckley said."That was a lot of heavy lifting to get done. I know the state is capable of doing a rebalance at this level without doing any revenue increases.”
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20140213/NEWS/302...eck=1

The separation of powers in our Constitution is very clear!!

Back in 2009 (when the democrats had super majorities) we created the Oregon Health Authority as a new state agency. We also ceded to them a lot of the authority that historically belonged to the legislative branch. Along with that we created the insurance exchange (Cover Oregon) as a public corporation, which put them outside the control of the legislature. I think we are headed for a massive train wreck and it may be by design. The reason I say this is because our Governor, and many members in the legislature truly want the complete government takeover of the health care system and this may be the way to accomplish that. I will go into more details during the February Session on this issue. I will close this with a request. I know there are many people who are fed up with government. I know there are also many people to whom one particular issue is the most important to them. What I am asking is twofold. First, stay engaged. It is more important now than at any time I can remember for the people to hold politicians accountable. Secondly, expand your interest beyond your singularly most important issue. I still believe you can do a better job of running your life than the government can, and we are losing these essential freedoms.

Cover Oregon Health exchange ranks last in enrollment in US!!

Oregon's health exchange ranks last of 12 state-based insurance exchanges in enrollment, according to a new analysis. In Oregon, officials defend their decision to not open for online enrollment, saying the website is producing inaccurate determinations on tax credits and other government assistance. The technical problems have prompted a massive push to enroll Oregonians by Dec. 15 using old-fashioned application forms. The small business portion of the Oregon exchange is also not functioning.So far, the Oregon exchange has cost more than $140 million in federal grant money.
www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2013/11/cover_...river

Just how many people will get subsidies on Cover Oregon?

Kaiser researchers estimate that about 337,000 Oregonians ultimately could buy insurance through Cover Oregon. Of those, about 187,000 will meet the financial requirements to receive tax credits. People are eligible for tax credits if they make between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s between $11,490 and $45,960 for a person living alone, or between $23,550 and $94,200 for a family of four. Most of these tax credits will go directly to the insurance plan chosen by the person. In exchange, the insurer will deduct the amount of the credit from the person’s monthly premium bill.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/health-care-inc/....html

Just how many people will get subsidies on Cover Oregon?

Kaiser researchers estimate that about 337,000 Oregonians ultimately could buy insurance through Cover Oregon. Of those, about 187,000 will meet the financial requirements to receive tax credits. People are eligible for tax credits if they make between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s between $11,490 and $45,960 for a person living alone, or between $23,550 and $94,200 for a family of four. Most of these tax credits will go directly to the insurance plan chosen by the person. In exchange, the insurer will deduct the amount of the credit from the person’s monthly premium bill.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/health-care-inc/....html

Cover Oregon still no enrollment; feds delay penalty deadline

Officials for Oregon's health insurance exchange on Thursday reported some progress, but acknowledged a major fix to the problem-plagued site may not happen this month as hoped.The website still has not enrolled anyone. Cover Oregon also released some statistics, after previously denying them to reporters: - So far, 4,260 paper applications to determine eligibility for assistance have been received. Also, agents and application assisters have created 2,459 electronic customer accounts so they can check eligibility for financial assistance once problems with the website are fixed. That's a total of 6,719 applications. Since some represent families, the applications represented approximately 11,500 Oregonians, officials said. In other news, the Obama administration gave six more weeks to individual consumers who otherwise faced a penalty if they didn't finish applying for coverage by Feb. 15, allowing it to be processed by March 15. Now they must finish applying by coverage by March 31 to avoid a penalty, according to Kaiser Health News.
www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2013/10/cover_...river

Cover Oregon's tax credit confusion!!

I can’t wait to sign my family up for one of the new Cover Oregon health insurance exchange plans. But even if we could sign up — and three weeks into its operation, the exchange is still not accepting applications — Cover Oregon’s confusion over how to determine income and eligibility for tax credits makes one wonder if they can ever get ObamaCare working. But perhaps Cover Oregon’s oddest misstep is that nowhere on the application is the term"MAGI” (or"modified adjusted gross income”) even mentioned — despite the fact that that it’s the law of the land in determining self-employed income eligibility under ObamaCare. By David Kline.
www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/10/a_cas...river

See how ObamaCare is impacting Oregon and sign the repeal pledge!

Democrats made many empty promises to pass ObamaCare and now Americans are paying the price for the health care law!
WATCH and SHARE "ObamaCare Costs: Colorado" #Obamacosts www.ObamaCareCosts.org

Oregon Health Authority Begins Foreclosure On Your Home

Here is How It works With The Oregon Health Authority and Care Oregon Health Ex-Changes.
At a cost of $20,000 for a family of four you can purchase a Bronze Plan insurance policy. That policy pays 60 percent of your medical cost. The remaining 40 percent is your responsibility. So Johnny wrecks the car and runs up a $100,000 health care cost. The insurance pays $60,000. The Balance $40,000 is your responsibility. You have 30 days to make arrangements to pay this amount in full. Unable to work out a payment with the Oregon Health Authority, they issue a Distraint Warrant and begin the process to foreclose on your home. Your mortgage holder receives a notice and now you are in default of your mortgage. The Sheriff has to sell the property in 60 days to collect the money due." Meanwhile you, your family and Johnny are out of the house.