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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we head into this new year, I hope you all are able to spend quality time with those who bring you joy. 2019 has certainly been a memorable year, and I am incredibly grateful for the privilege to represent you in Salem. Throughout this year, I have seen our community come together and exhibit great courage and tenacity. Whether it was our students introducing gun reform legislation last session, or parents and students rallying to show support and compassion for our LGBTQIA+ community at a recent school board meeting, I am grateful for the dedicated engagement of House District 38. I look forward to continuing to work with you on the issues that impact our community.
In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to attend a variety of conferences and panels such as the AARP Prescription Drug Forum and the State of Reform Conference. The challenges we face require collaboration, and I have appreciated learning from others and sharing my thoughts.
I was also thrilled to see both of our Senators back on recess last week when I moderated Senator Wyden’s conversation on the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. As a longtime champion for the environment, I am deeply appreciative of both Senator Wyden and Merkley’s commitment to protecting our great state’s river and streams for generations to come. You can nominate a river or stream for protection by emailing Rivers@wyden.senate.gov by January 20th, 2020.
 I nominated the Whitehorse Creek in the Trout Creek Mountains of southeastern Oregon. This river is home to a rare trout species (Lahontan cut throat trout) and is an incredible scenic river in a remote part of our state near the Nevada border.
Right before Thanksgiving, we were back in the Capitol for more Legislative Days. In those three days, I heard 8.5 hours of informational hearings; participated in Governor Brown’s bill signing ceremony of SB 770, which establishes the Universal Health Care Task Force; and engaged in conversations with constituents and advocates.
In my House Health Care Committee, we spent nearly three hours hearing about:
- An update from the Oregon Health Authority about vaping illnesses in Oregon, the current challenges with non-emergency medical transport, and Oregon’s new Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target as a result of SB 889;
- The impacts of consolidation on Oregon’s health care market from John McConnell, a Health Economist at OHSU, and;
- Outpatient dialysis treatment in Oregon, which leads me into my two personal bills for the 2020 session.
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In the short legislative session, Representatives are limited to introducing two personal bills.
Dialysis Clinics
In Oregon, approximately 90% of the dialysis clinics are owned by two for-profit dialysis companies, Fresenius and DaVita. Between these two, there is very little market overlap. Another player in this industry is the American Kidney Fund-a nonprofit that receives 80% of its funding from Fresenius and DaVita. In turn, the American Kidney Fund pays third-party payments to insurance companies to keep patients on dialysis and not necessarily to put them on the transplant list. This ultimately results in higher premiums for all of those on commercial insurance.
As always, my main priorities are protecting patients, including undocumented patients; ensuring accessible, affordable, high-quality care; and making certain that our state dollars are spent wisely. I am excited to further study the issue of third-party payments and to introduce legislation that will help ensure the above-mentioned priorities are front and center in our dialysis clinics.
Health Care Interpreters
Federal law requires that healthcare organizations provide access to healthcare interpreters for patients with limited English proficiency. Interpreters provide a vital service by ensuring accurate communication is conveyed between the provider and patient, and that the patient receives quality care. Currently, there is a loophole in Oregon statute that allows for providers to justify using non-trained interpreters even when there are Oregon Health Authority qualified and certified interpreters available. Furthermore, there is no clear complaint process for interpreters who experience wage and labor violations. For me, this is a clear equity issue, and I am pleased to be using one of my bills to prioritize the rights of both patients and workers.
Earlier this month, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) filed a lawsuit against the State of Oregon regarding two of the bills I have sponsored, HB 4005 and HB 2658.
Both of these bills passed with bipartisan support and were focused on transparency and consumer protection. I believe these bills are defensible, and that this is just another attempt by PhRMA to avoid accountability.
The biggest problem is with the price, and PhRMA sets the price. But, the fact of the matter is that PhRMA is good at pointing the finger at insurance companies, PBMs, and other players in the drug supply chain instead. What PhRMA hasn’t done is come to the table to help lawmakers figure out its role in bringing down drug prices and providing affordable access to patients who need these drugs. But, I suspect that if the legislative solutions mean decreasing profits, then PhRMA has no interest, and will fight it tooth and nail as made evident by this lawsuit.
My allegiance is with patients, not profiteering drug manufacturers.
The census is the constitutionally mandated count of every individual residing in the United States regardless of age, race, ethnicity or immigration status. In 2010, 79.8% of Oregonians mailed back their census response. That means 20.2% of the population required the more costly and difficult in-person follow-up. Oregon’s response rate ranked below the median at 28th in the nation. Over the past year, I have been working as Co-Chair of the Oregon Complete Count Committee to ensure that we improve our state’s response rate, because getting an accurate population count is critical for Oregon’s federal funding.
Oregon currently receives over $8 billion per year from the US Department of Health and Human Services, over $6.5 billion of which goes to Medicaid. An undercount in Oregon would significantly impact this figure, and Oregon’s healthcare industry would suffer across the board. From health care centers, to the state children’s health insurance program, to substance abuse treatment and prevention programs, and beyond, the impacts would be highly detrimental. Federal funding also provides critical resources for our communities like housing, education, transportation, and more.
So, I hope you will join me in committing to be counted this spring and to spreading the word about the importance of the census. In January, we will be launching a website with resource for individuals, communities, and organizations, which I will be sure to share in my newsletter and on social media.
I cordially invite you to my next town hall with Senator Wagner and Representative Prusak. Please join us for a conversation with community leaders, students, and health care experts about e-cigarettes, addiction, and the impact on our youth.
Town Hall: E-Cigarette Addiction & Our Youth
Thursday, January 23rd from 6:30pm-8pm
Rolling Hills Community Church
3550 SW Borland Rd, Tualatin, OR 97062
2019 has certainly been a year for the record books with incredible victories and some unfinished work. As we look ahead to the 2020 Legislative Session, I am resolved to continue working on the most pressing issues facing our state like climate change and safe storage for firearms. Having heard from so many of you about these two topics, I know they are a top priority for you too.
Constituent input is an invaluable part of the legislative process, and I look forward to connecting with you to hear your thoughts and opinions. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for a great year!
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Sincerely,
 Andrea Salinas
Oregon State Representative, HD-38
email: Rep.AndreaSalinas@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1438
address: 900 Court St NE, H-485, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/salinas
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