Ore. State Legislature: Senate Passes Bill Directing Oregon Health Authority to Procure, Administer State-Based Health Insurance Portal

SALEM, Oregon, June 21 -- The Oregon State Legislature issued the following news release on June 20, 2023:

Today, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 972, which requires the Oregon Health Authority to "procure and administer" a state-based health insurance exchange website.

Currently 18 states utilize a state-based exchange, while other states -- including Oregon -- utilize healthcare.gov, the health insurance exchange website administered by the federal government.

SB 972 requires Oregon to move to a state-based exchange by November 1, 2026.

"Utilizing a state-based health insurance exchange will provide our state with more flexibility to achieve our goal of providing affordable and high-quality health coverage to all," said Senator Deb Patterson (D - Salem), chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care. "We have a lot of great ideas about how to improve Oregonians' access to health care and a state-based exchange will allow us to better pursue those ideas."

SB 972 is one of the hundreds of bills that Senate Democrats rescued by negotiating an end to the Senate Republican walkout. Thanks to Senate Democrats showing up, doing their jobs, and delivering results for the people of Oregon, SB 972 now moves to the House for consideration.

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Original text here: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/Pages/pressrelease.aspx