Governor Appoints Panel to Address Health Care Costs

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has announced the members of a new committee tasked with controlling rising health care costs.

The Statesman Journal reports the committee – made up of government officials, union representatives and health care professionals – is responsible for creating an annual target for health care cost growth and providing recommendations to the Legislature on how to manage unreasonable costs.

Insurance companies, hospitals and health care providers will be required to stay within that growth target.

The first benchmark from the committee will be reported to the Oregon Health Policy Board for approval by Sept. 15, 2020. The committee’s report will include a legislative concept for implementation and possible enforcement actions if a provider or payer exceeds that target.