Gov. Kate Brown's Budget Includes Cuts for Oregon Hospitals, Which Are Not Happy

The budget Gov. Kate Brown's released today brought cries of pain from Oregon's hospitals, which are currently dealing with an unprecedented number of COVID-19 patients. (Five hundred seventy-seven patients are hospitalized with COVID as of Dec. 1, up from 171 on Nov. 1.)

The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems spent heavily to pass Measure 108 in November. That measure increased the tax on cigarettes by $2 a pack and will generate more than $100 million a year in new revenue for the Oregon Health Authority, which provides funding to hospitals through the state's Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan.

Brown's proposed budget would reduce hospital system revenue by a similar amount through reduced reimbursement rates and a lower assumed medical inflation rate.

Becky Hultberg, CEO of the hospital association, says Brown's budget, released Nov. 30, takes money away from OAHHS members when they need it most.

Read more: https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2020/12/01/gov-kate-browns-budget-includes-cuts-for-oregon-hospitals-who-are-not-happy/
(Williamette Week)