UWS alumni, Vern Saboe, DC, recently wrote a news release for the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) highlighting a big win for the chiropractic profession in Oregon. A bill was passed that adds the federal non-discrimination protocols in the Affordable Health Care Act into Oregon state law. Oregon became the first state to adopt these protocols.
April 30, Salem, Ore., House Bill 2468 passed off the Oregon Senate floor on a 30-yes, 0-no vote and in so doing inserts the federal Section 2706(a) from the PPACA (ObamaCare) into state law, says Dr. Vern Saboe, ACA Delegate and lobbyist for the Oregon Chiropractic Association. The bill represented nearly a year of work and political negotiating however, key to our success was the help the profession gained from former Governor John Kitzhaber, MD, Saboe said.
In 2012 Governor Kitzhaber at the profession’s asking, inserted 2706 into his Senate Bill 1580 which dealt with “Coordinated Care Organizations” (CCOs) pertaining to the Medicaid and Medicare populations, CCOs are Oregon’s version of a federal Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The profession again gained key help from Governor Kitzhaber who met behind the scenes with the Oregon Insurance Commissioner stressing the importance of 2706 being inserted in Oregon law. Subsequent to that meeting the commissioner inserted 2706 into the Oregon Insurance Division’s draft legislation which became HB-2468. Dr. Saboe has requested a signing ceremony with the current Governor Kate Brown and OCA officials.
