Healthcare

Modifies the requirements for screening a hospital patient for presumptive eligibility for financial assistance. [ Prohibits the Oregon Health Authority from requiring certain home health agencies to comply with Medicare conditions of participation. ] [ Modifies the requirements for how the Department of Human Services must publish Residential Care Quality Measurement Program data. ] Removes the requirement that an applicant for a residential care facility administrator license hold a bachelor's degree in a health or social service related field. Allows a person residing in a correctional facility to receive prerelease medical assistance benefits under certain circumstances. [ Prohibits the authority or a coordinated care organization from requiring prior authorization for medical assistance coverage for repairing complex rehabilitation technology if the repair costs $1,500 or less. ] Modifies the requirements for meetings held by the Health Evidence Review Commission. Modifies the composition of the Medicaid Advisory Committee. Modifies the eligibility requirements for parent providers who are paid to provide attendant care services to their children. {See A-Eng Bill for omitted text.} Allows a full-time dentistry student enrolled in an out-of-state dental education program to practice dentistry without a license if the student is supervised by a faculty member of a dental education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Requires casualty or health insurance policies to provide coverage for medically necessary anesthesia services, regardless of duration, for any covered procedures. Requires dental insurers to follow certain rules for payment and denial of claims. Requires the Legislative Policy and Research Director to develop and propose to the [ Legislative Policy and Research Committee ] committees with jurisdiction over health care an insurance coverage mandate impact statement policy. Directs the [ committee ] committees to perform due diligence in considering the proposal and authorizes the [ committee ] committees to modify the proposal if the [ committee ] committees so [ determines ] determine , and then to adopt the policy. Repeals requirement that enrollees in individual or group policies or certificates of health insurance [ or members of coordinated care organizations ] be assigned by their insurer [ or organization ] to primary care providers under certain circumstances. Specifies exemptions from the requirement that pharmacy services administrative organizations must register with the Department of Consumer and Business Services as third party administrators. {See A-Eng Bill for omitted text.} Modifies requirements for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board's annual affordability determination for insulin products. Allows licensees of the Occupational Therapy Licensing Board and the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy to provide psilocybin services as licensed psilocybin service facilitators while providing occupational therapy or physical therapy services. {See A-Eng Bill for omitted text.} Lowers the age at which a naturopathic physician may request a retired license status from 70 years of age to [60] 65 years of age. Includes nurse practitioners and physician associates in the definition of "attending physician" for purposes of the treatment of workers’ compensable injuries. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Directs schools to have a cardiac emergency response plan as part of the procedures for responding to medical emergencies. Prescribes the requirements of a cardiac emergency response plan, including requirements related to automated external defibrillators. Takes effect July 1, [ 2026 ] 2027 .

Requires the Oregon Health Authority to adopt rules and procedures to allow a hospital to apply for a license as a rural emergency hospital. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires an urgent care center to make publicly available specified information about the urgent care center, offer specified services and, except in certain circumstances, have at least one licensed health care provider on site during the hours of operation. Defines "urgent care center."

] Requires the Oregon Health Authority and coordinated care organizations to ensure that access to behavioral health treatment in the medical assistance program is comparable to access to medical and surgical treatment and that limitations are applied to behavioral health treatment no more stringently than to medical and surgical treatment. Prohibits the authority or a contracted external quality review organization, under certain circumstances, from making a negative finding about or imposing a penalty on a coordinated care organization based on documents or templates created by the authority for use by a coordinated care organization. Modifies certain statutes to clarify roles and responsibilities for the delivery of behavioral health services and to update terminology. Modifies the types of providers that may be reimbursed in the state medical assistance program for the cost of health services delivered using telemedicine. Becomes operative on January 1, 2027. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Modifies the requirements for Medicaid supplemental reimbursements paid to emergency medical services providers. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

SB 1527 requires Oregon’s Public Employees’ Benefit Board and Oregon Educators Benefit Board to cover cervical cancer screenings and necessary follow-up tests (like colposcopy or biopsies) without cost-sharing for their members. The bill amends Oregon health insurance laws to mandate this coverage under specific benefit plans. It applies to health benefit plans issued, renewed, or extended on or after the bill’s effective date. The law ensures these screenings and follow-up care are fully covered at no cost to enrollees. This directly affects public employees and educators enrolled in these state benefit programs.

] Requires the Oregon Health Authority to, no later than June 30, 2027, adopt a uniform process for credentialing [ organizational ] behavioral health providers and [ establish a centralized portal for processing applications ] select an existing electronic credentialing system . Prohibits a coordinated care organization from requiring a behavioral health provider to comply with any additional credentialing procedures. Requires a coordinated care organization to begin using the selected electronic credentialing system no later than July 1, 2027. Requires the authority to minimize unnecessary administrative burden for individual and organizational behavioral health providers who serve medical assistance recipients and to report biennially to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly. Allows certain licensed behavioral health care providers to provide supervision for other behavioral health care providers who hold different license types. [ Provides that the Mental Health Regulatory Agency will provide administrative and regulatory oversight and centralized service for the State Board of Licensed Social Workers. ] Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Modifies the definition of "transition aged youth residential treatment home" to include young adults between the ages of 17 and 25. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

HCR 202 is a concurrent resolution declaring Oregon's 2033 policy goal for its healthcare system to be more affordable and accessible for all residents. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but sets six specific targets, including ensuring timely primary care access, improving population health outcomes, stabilizing hospital finances, and reducing healthcare costs below national averages. The resolution directly affects Oregonians (especially those delaying care due to cost), healthcare providers, hospitals, insurers, and employers facing rising premiums. It acknowledges systemic issues like Medicaid funding losses and high hospital deficits but focuses on long-term vision rather than immediate policy changes.