An Oregon bill targeting surprise billing gained approval in the House by a narrow margin on Wednesday, according to The Lund Report.
Here are six things to know.
1. The bill in question, House Bill 2339, was primarily approved along Democratic party lines. Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West Linn, was the only House lawmaker from her party to vote for the measure, according to the report.
2. The bill would require insurers and healthcare service contractors to reimburse nonparticipating providers at a rate 1.75 times higher than what Medicare allows, according to the report.
3. Additionally, if a patient receives emergency services at a hospital, the hospital would be reimbursed based on the average payment received through private insurance or Medicare — whichever is greater — for the care provided, according to The Lund Report. This would be the case regardless of whether the hospital is out-of-network for the patient.
4. Many Republican House members were not completely on board with this particular bill. According to the report, one concern raised is the rate of 1.75 times Medicare, which some argue should be higher.
"Medicare rates are very low … and it can be very difficult to get on those (in-network private insurance) panels," Rep. Bill Kennemer, PhD, R-Canby, a retired psychologist, said in the report. "Absolutely, this is an issue that needs to be resolved. … But this bill comes up short."
5. Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, countered that balance is necessary as far as the desires of consumers and insurers and the desires of providers, and he said the rate should be less than four times Medicare, according to the report.
6. The bill must still gain approval in the state Senate.