OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

900 Court St., N.E., Room H-269 Salem OR 97301 http://www.leg.state.or.us/

NEWS RELEASE

November 18, 2014

Contact: Robin Maxey Jared Mason-Gere (503) 986-1605 (503) 986- 1204 [email protected] [email protected]

COURTNEY AND KOTEK APPOINT JOINT INTERIM HEALTH INSURANCE TRANSITION COMMITTEE PANEL WILL CRAFT LEGISLATION TO CLOSE COVER ; MOVE INSURANCE MARKETPLACE FUNCTIONS TO PUBLIC AGENCIES

SALEM- Oregon Senate President (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn) and House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) today announced the appointment of a joint legislative committee to take steps toward shutting down the troubled public corporation known as Cover Oregon and moving the remaining functions to public agencies.

The Joint Interim Committee on Health Insurance Transition is tasked with creating legislation for introduction in the 2015 Legislature. Courtney and Kotek called for the transition of Cover Oregon services in the summer, after continual missteps by the organization and their private contractors.

The committee will be co-chaired by Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham) and Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland). Committee members are Sen. Alan Bates (D-Ashland), Sen. Brian Boquist (R-Dallas), Sen. (R- Stayton), Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D- Portland), Rep. John Davis (R-Wilsonville), Rep. Alissa Keny Guyer (D-Portland), Rep. (R-Oregon City), and Rep. Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene).

“We need this committee to get to work now to ensure that Oregon has a viable state healthcare marketplace moving forward. The marketplace should make quality affordable insurance plans available to Oregonians. It should operate efficiently and effectively within state and federal law. It should be accountable to Oregon and her people,” Courtney said.

“Oregon has made great strides in expanding access to quality, affordable health care. This committee’s work can give Oregonians faith that their access to insurance won’t be interrupted,” said Kotek. “This committee has the policy expertise to ensure the marketplace functions of Cover Oregon will be subject to complete public scrutiny and oversight."

The first meeting of the Joint Interim Committee on Health Insurance Transition will be held during interim legislative committee meetings in the second week of December.

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