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Access, Quality and Cost-Control

The rising cost of health care and health insurance is an unsustainable burden on Oregon businesses and families. New federal legislation will require all citizens to have health insurance benefits or face penalties starting in 2014, it is essential that Oregon find a way to reduce costs while maintaining access and quality.

Oregon Health Insurance Exchange

Oregon Business Association believes that the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange should provide transparency for the public and have access, quality and cost-control as priorities.

• The exchange should be dual-market to allow individuals and small groups to purchase plans inside the exchange and outside the exchange. This option increases competition and innovation, and makes the exchange prove its value.
• The exchange should be open to employers of all sizes following the federal timeline, to offer the greatest amount of choice (with the understanding that tax credits will not be available to employers inside the exchange who do not meet the criteria). The exchange should not include the Medicaid population, though it may be beneficial to have parallel regulations for the exchange and Medicaid.
• The exchange should be a public corporation, not a state agency or private contract, with a skilled and qualified governing board that runs lean and is as free from political influence as possible.
• There should be only one exchange that offers statewide and regional options.
• The exchange will benefit from implementation on the federal timeline, simplifying the process for multi-state carriers.
• The exchange should offer a manageable number of benefit designs in addition to the two national plans required by the federal government in order to offer choice to consumers while maintaining a simple shopping environment. OBA recommends between two and four additional plan options.
• Any carrier who meets reasonable standards and criteria set by the governing board, including access and quality, should be allowed to offer plans within the exchange.
• The exchange should be funded by an annual fee on consumers using the exchange, set by the governing board and dedicated solely to covering the costs of administering the exchange.

Cost-Containment

Employ cost-containment strategies such as administrative simplification and medical liability reform.

Marrying Resources with Results

Ensuring a world-class education system for all Oregonians is critical to the state’s ability to compete in the global economy and maintain a high quality of life for all Oregonians. There is a need for a coordinated systematic approach to delivering a highly qualified workforce for Oregon businesses. In addition, investments are needed at every stage of the education continuum, from Pre-K to higher education.

K-12 Funding and Reform

OBA has worked jointly with the Superintendents, Stand for Children and Chalkboard Project on a bold agenda that identifies high leverage opportunities to create an educational system that prepares Oregon’s students for their next level of education and training to compete in a global economy.

Improve Statewide Governance & Maximize Teacher Quality

• Make the state superintendent an appointed position, confirmed by the Senate.
• Continue the current investment in quality core professional development and mentorship for teachers and administrators.
• Implement a rigorous statewide performance evaluation system for every educator, allowing local districts to develop systems with multiple performance measures, including student growth as a factor. The evaluation must be proficiency-based and aligned with adopted state teaching standards.
• Explore and develop new career pathways and new compensation models by investing in research-based initiatives like the CLASS Project by creating the School District Collaboration Grant Program.

Reform Education Service Districts

OBA supports efforts to increase efficiency of school administration by consolidating back-office services and reforming ESDs.

Invest in Early Childhood Education

OBA supports maintaining funding for Head Start and Early Head Start at 09-11 budget levels.

Restructure Higher Education

Oregon’s economy depends on a well-educated workforce. OBA has worked with the state’s three other major business associations—Associated Oregon Industries, the Oregon Business Council and the Portland Business Alliance—to develop a common message about improving Oregon’s university system.

• The Joint Task Force supports the recommendations of the Chancellor and the OUS Board to discontinue the system’s status as a state agency to improve flexibility to meet statewide education goals as efficiently as possible.
• OUS needs a financing mechanism that provides adequate, predictable and ongoing support for the institutions. Any governance change must be made within the context of the state’s comprehensive and long-term funding solution for all of education. We urge the state to maintain appropriate funding for the entire post-secondary system.
• A centralized coordinating board is imperative to ensure that programs are delivered in a manner that ensures maximum benefit to all Oregonians and quality standards are achieved. The overall system must be designed and managed to achieve the best results for all Oregonians.
• For universities positioned to have them, the question of local boards should be answered, including how and when they will be formed and what authorities they should have. Additional university-level local governance may strengthen the ability of some institutions to serve Oregon students; therefore, we believe this idea should be explored.