Call to Action: September 17, 2017


Protect Medicaid in Oregon!
Do Not Sign the “Stop Healthcare Taxes” Petition!


A bipartisan effort by the state legislature just saved Medicaid in Oregon. Three legislators want to undo that.

While President Trump and the Congressional leadership have been laboring to slash Medicaid and defund Planned Parenthood, Oregon’s leaders have stepped up.

The Oregon state legislature managed to rescue Medicaid in Oregon by passing the Health Care Provider Tax (HB 2391), which raises $670 million in revenue over two years, and pulls in $1.9 billion in matching federal funds. It passed both state houses with bipartisan support, to ensure that some 370,000 Oregonians retain coverage through the coming two-year budget cycle. The measure also lowers health care premiums for some 200,000 Oregonians.

But now, three state legislators — Rep. Julie Parrish, R-Tualatin/West Linn; Rep. Cedric Hayden, R-Roseburg; and Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford — are pushing a reckless and cruel referendum to undo HB 2391, reopen a gaping hole in the state budget, and jeopardize health care protections for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians.

And they can do a lot of damage even before Referendum 301 (dubbed the “Stop Healthcare Taxes” referendum) comes to a vote.

Don’t sign the petition!

The “Stop Healthcare Taxes” referendum is reckless, irresponsible, and cruel.

If the sponsors of the “Stop Healthcare Taxes” petition (Referendum 301) manage to gather the necessary 59,000 signatures before October 5 , the Health Care Provider Tax bill would be immediately placed on hold until voters decide its fate, potentially with a special election on January 23.

Oregonians want peace of mind, not endless political games.
Stop Playing Politics with Our Health Care!


**ACTION 1: Tell These Legislators to STOP Playing Politics with Oregon Health Care**

Contact the sponsors and ask them to withdraw their referendum. Tell them that Oregonians are tired of the Health Care Chaos!

Representative Julie Parrish
State Representative Julie Parrish (Republican – District 37 – Tualatin/West Linn)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1437
Email:

Representative Cedric Hayden
State Representative Cedric Hayden (Republican – District 7 – Roseburg)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1407
Email:

Representative Sal Esquivel*
State Representative Sal Esquivel (Republican – District 6 – Medford)
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1406
Email:

*Rep Esquivel voted in favor of HB 2391 on the house floor. Now he is one of the sponsors of the “Stop Healthcare Taxes” petition, in retaliation for legislative decisions to provide health coverage for non-citizens and reproductive services.

SAMPLE SCRIPT:
My name is [-] and I’m a resident of [City], Oregon. I am calling to urge you to withdraw Referendum 301, the “Stop Healthcare Taxes” referendum. The political games around Medicaid must stop. Last month, Oregon passed the Health Care Provider Tax with bipartisan support, so that we Oregonians would not have to worry about losing our health care. But now, Referendum 301 puts our health care back in jeopardy. Referendum 301 is reckless, irresponsible, and cruel! I urge you to withdraw Referendum 301. When it comes to health care, Oregonians need peace of mind, not endless political games!


**ACTION 2: Call or Write your state Representative and Senator**

Contact your state representative and senator, and ask them if they will take a stand against Referendum 301, the “Stop Healthcare Taxes” petition. Tell them you support Medicaid in Oregon. Tell them no more political games with our healthcare.
Not sure who your state reps are? Check here: Who represents me?

SAMPLE SCRIPT:
My name is [-] and I’m a constituent of [City], Oregon. I urge you to speak out against Referendum 301, the “Stop Healthcare Taxes” referendum. The political games around Medicaid must stop. Last month, Oregon passed the Health Care Provider Tax with bipartisan support, so that we Oregonians would not have to worry about losing our health care. But now, Referendum 301 puts our health care back in jeopardy. Referendum 301 is reckless, irresponsible, and cruel! Please tell the sponsors of this referendum, that when it comes to health care, Oregonians need peace of mind, not endless political games!

**For Your Reference**

Five things to know about the Medicaid Fix [from The Statesman Journal [June 21, 2017]

1. The proposed tax on hospitals and insurers would produce an additional $673 million for the Oregon Health Plan in the 2017-2019 budget cycle.
2. The Oregon Health Plan is part of the federal Medicaid program, which is a state-federal partnership, and the new state taxes would leverage about $1.9 billion in federal matching funds.
3. The Oregon Health Plan covers one out of four Oregonians.
4. Total state hospital taxes would be 6 percent of net patient revenue for the state’s 28 largest hospitals and 4 percent for 32 small, rural hospitals.
5. Insurers and managed-care organizations would pay a new 1.5 percent tax on premium income.

More Details: The Health Care Provider Tax bill (HB 2391) establishes a 1.5% tax on premiums and raises existing taxes on hospitals.It preserves the Medicaid expansion that was part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

The Nitty-Gritty Legislative Details on HB 2391.

Check the status of the petition on Oregon Secretary of State’s website (type “301” or “Stop Healthcare Taxes” in the keyword search field).  http://egov.sos.state.or.us/elec/web_irr_search.search_form