Landmark health reform bill passes Senate - Pittsburgh Business Times:

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Also winning passage on Thursday was a the creatiobn of a state agency charge with improving the delivery of health care acrosathe state. The “Healthy Kids — Healthyy Oregon” bill, which will increasew taxes on hospitals and healthy insurersby $150 million per marks a major victory for Gov. Ted who proposed the measure. It faced fierce oppositio n byhospital groups, who were pacifiecd when their proposed tax hike was moderated. Insurers still maintaihn that the measure will increase the cost of healthn coverage for thousandsof Oregonians, by adding a 1 percenty premium to the cost of commercial health insurance.
By raisinf additional funds, however, the state will receive $500 millionn in unclaimed federal healthcare dollars. The second which allocates two-year funding of $3 million from the state’s generalp fund, creates the Oregon Healthh Authority to oversee existing stat e programs that touch onhealth care. The new statr agency is charged with establishing health industry cost control measures and with promotiny health care reform at a national Both bills now head to the governor forhis signature.