Section 1331 Basic Health Program Public Comment

Oregon Health Authority sent this update at 03/14/2025 12:09 PM PDT

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Public comment process

The public comment period for edits to the Section 1331 Basic Health Program will run from March 17-21, 2025.

OHA will open a public comment period on new edits to its existing 1331 Basic Health Program Blueprint (BHP). The public comment period begins March 17, 2025, and runs through March 21, 2025. During this time, written and verbal comments on the proposed edits will be accepted. These comments will be used to inform the final edits proposed to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The draft Blueprint is available here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Documents/1331-BHP-Blueprint-2025.pdf

Everyone has a right to know about and use OHA programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

  • Sign language and spoken language interpreters
  • Written material in other languages
  • Braille
  • Large print
  • Audio and other formats

To receive documents in alternate formats, please contact Melisa Otrugman at ohpbridge@oha.oregon.gov or 503-689-5238.

How to submit comments

The public is invited to give written and verbal comments on the draft edits to the state’s existing Section 1331 BHP Blueprint from March 17, 2025, through March 21, 2025. The deadline for comment is March 21, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The public may provide verbal or written comments. All public comments received by OHA will be posted at OHP.Oregon.gov/Bridge.

Beginning March 17, 2025, written comments can be emailed to ohpbridge@oha.oregon.gov or sent via physical mail to:

Health Policy and Analytics Bridge Program Team

Attn: Melisa Otrugman

421 SW Oak St Suite 875

Portland, OR 97204

Members of the public may provide verbal comment at the following public hearing:

Section 1331 BHP Blueprint 2025 Edits Public Hearing

March 20, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join the meeting now

  • Meeting ID: 292 858 343 262
  • Passcode: Pk6GD72f

Dial in by phone

If you need help or accommodations, please contact Melisa Otrugman at 503-689-5238 or ohpbridge@oha.oregon.gov at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Background

Oregon launched its OHP Bridge – Basic Health Program (BHP) on July 1, 2024, using a Section 1331 Basic Health Program Blueprint. OHP Bridge is a new benefit package that enables adults with annual income between 138 – 200% FPL to access no-cost health care coverage, with the same benefits afforded under OHP, excluding Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) and Health Related Social Needs (HRSN). To date, OHP Bridge – BHP covers more than 33,000 people.

Basic Health Program Blueprints do not need to be renewed; however, states do have the option to update the documents on an annual basis if needed. Oregon has identified four edits for its existing Blueprint The proposed edits aim to fulfill two goals, the first is to ensure the information included in the document is up to date and accurate, and the second is to propose two policy changes to the program.

Proposed edits

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is submitting BHP Blueprint edits to CMS that include substantive edits to program operation as well as technical and grammatical edits to the Blueprint that do not affect how the program is operated.

The following edits are structural in nature and affect the operation of OHP Bridge – BHP; language reflecting these requests are highlighted in the revised Blueprint available for public review:

  • Oregon requests a continued exception to federal requirement to offer a choice of standard health plan offerings to OHP Bridge enrollees. The request extends an exception received for 2024 to calendar years 2025 and 2026.
  • Oregon is requesting to offer retroactive coverage to a limited number of individuals who meet certain circumstances and were determined eligible for the BHP. Retroactive coverage would be available for individuals who meet each of the following conditions: 1) they were enrolled in a QHP in December 2024; 2) they were referred from HealthCare.gov to the ONE System prior to January 1, 2025 and were unable to remain covered by their QHP after January 1, 2025; and 3) they were not enrolled into OHP Bridge until February 1, 2025 or later. Individuals in this scenario must affirmatively seek retroactive coverage through the state, and Oregon will use a manual process to provide retroactive coverage for this population back to January 1, 2025.

In addition, OHA will be submitting edits that are more technical in nature, including language that:

  • Updates listing of key OHA staff administering OHP Bridge and revises the list of Trustees identified in the Blueprint.
  • Confirms the Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) designation for the Healthier Oregon Program.
  • Updates previously approved language describing eligibility and enrollment-related proposals for how Oregon would launch the program in July 2024 to reflect that these activities were implemented and continue to be the fashion in which Oregon operates the program.

Implementation timeline

Oregon will submit the updated Blueprint with the proposed edits to CMS no later than March 31, 2025.

You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer free of charge. Contact the Community Partner Outreach Program at community.outreach@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 1-833-647-3678. We accept all relay calls.