United States of Care Provides Comment to Oregon Policymakers on the Design of the Bridge Plan

In March 2022, the Oregon legislature passed HB 4035, which authorizes the development of a “Bridge Plan.” This bill helps support continuity of coverage for people at risk of losing coverage at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. This plan lays an important foundation for policies that would serve many people struggling to access affordable coverage in Oregon. 

On May 24, United States of Care provided public comment during a meeting of the Bridge Plan Task Force created under HB 4035 that is tasked with designing the plan — including the plan’s benefits, costs, and reimbursements. USofCare recommended that the Task Force create a plan that is as comprehensive as Marketplace plans and includes services covered by the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), such as dental care. Our testimony emphasized the importance of a Bridge Plan that minimizes costs to beneficiaries, adheres to the same health equity standards as OHP, and helps Oregonians understand their care and more easily navigate the health care system. 

We continue to work with partners on the ground in Oregon to support a successful Bridge Plan that is designed with flexibility to allow for future development of a public health insurance option to help even more Oregonians afford health care in the future.