Attention NABIP-Oregon Coalition, 

Oregon's Legislators recently introduced an extremely problematic amendment to Senate Bill 608 that will drastically increase the cost to employer-sponsored health plans throughout Oregon, and further mask soaring pharmaceutical costs. Curbing the ever-increasing cost of health care and insurance is our single most priority, and Amendment -2 will only exacerbate the cost crisis. The newly amended bill is being heard on May 8th for a vote, just under one week away, and we need your help! 

Call to Action: Contact Rep. Rob Nosse, the Chair of the Committee overseeing Oregon SB 608, A-2, to let him know how problematic this amendment would be for all of Oregon's business community. Below is amendment A-2's verbiage we want removed from the bill:  

“To the extent permitted by federal law, an insurer offering a health plan that provides pharmacy benefits and a pharmacy benefit manager shall include all amounts paid by an enrollee or paid by another person on behalf of an enrollee toward the cost of a covered prescription drug when calculating the enrollee’s contribution to an out-of-pocket maximum, deductible, copayment, coinsurance or other cost-sharing requirement applied to the drug if: “(a) The drug does not have a generic equivalent; or “(b) The drug has a generic equivalent and the enrollee has: “(A) Obtained prior authorization from the insurer or pharmacy benefit manager; “(B) Complied with a step therapy protocol; or “(C) Received approval from the insurer or pharmacy benefit manager through the insurer’s or the pharmacy benefit manager’s exceptions, appeal or review process. “(3) For high deductible health plans the provisions of subsection (2) of this section apply only to preventive services until the enrollee has satisfied the minimum deductible under 26 U.S.C. 223(c)(2)."  

Take Action!  Contact Representative Nosse today! 

Taylor Kane, OAHU 2022-23 Legislative Chair
Tom Holt, OAHU Lobbyist