PUBLIC MEETINGS SET TO DESIGN 2017 OREGON HEALTH PLANS

Oregonians who want to participate in the process of setting the essential health benefits and standard plan design for 2017 health insurance plans can attend the first meeting of the Essential Health Benefits Rulemaking Advisory Committee. The first meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 10, at the Labor and Industries Building in Salem.
Essential health benefits are a set of health care services that all health insurance plans in the individual and small group markets that are subject to the Affordable Care Act's market reforms must cover with no annual or lifetime dollar limits. Essential health benefits are defined by a benchmark plan selected by the Department of Consumer and Business Services that reflects a "typical employer plan" available in Oregon. Oregon must notify the federal government of its benchmark plan selection in June 2015.


All of the committee's meetings are open to the public and also available via online streaming. Time will be set aside at each meeting for public comment, and comments can also be submitted in writing to essential.healthbenefits@oregon.gov.
The committee is made up of members of the public, including consumer representatives, health insurance company representatives, health care provider representatives, and insurance agent representatives. Staff from the department and the Oregon Health Authority will also participate on the committee.
The committee will be tasked with a number of duties, including the following:
* Reviewing the benchmark plan options
* Recommending a benchmark plan
* Determining whether supplemental benefits are necessary to meet federal requirements
* Recommending any required supplemental benefits
* Recommending plan designs for Oregon's standard plans
"The recommendations of this committee will have a lasting impact on the design of health plans purchased by Oregonians in the individual and small business markets in 2017 and beyond," said Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali. "I encourage anyone with an interest to participate in the process and let us know what is important to them when it comes to essential health benefits and standard plan designs."
Oregon standard health plans are designed by the department for the bronze and silver metal tiers in the individual and small group markets and have identical cost sharing across insurance companies. This means that all standard plans will have the same benefits, deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance, and out-of-pocket maximums.
Meetings will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 260 of the Labor and Industries Building at 350 Winter St. NE in Salem on the following days:
* Monday, April 10
* Tuesday, April 21
* Wednesday, May 6
* Monday, May 18
* Tuesday, June 2
* Thursday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (tentatively scheduled)
Meeting materials, updates, and video recordings of the meetings will be posted online at www.oregon.gov/DCBS/insurance/legal/committees-workgroups/Pages/essential-health-benefits/essential-health-benefits.aspx. Sign up for meeting updates and notices, or submit public comment by emailing essential.healthbenefits@oregon.gov.
Committee appointments will be announced soon on the committee webpage listed above. 

 Submitted by the Oregon Dept. of Consumer & Business Services