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If you're having trouble viewing this message, please visit my legislative web page at http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/prozanski/, click on "News" in the lower left-hand column and scroll down.
Dear friends,
This morning, Governor Brown announced that 28 counties, including Douglas and Lane Counties, met criteria for "Phase I" reopening. A full list of counties and their statuses is available here. To be clear: These counties aren't returning to pre-coronavirus "normal" but rather, businesses and other sectors there can operate under certain, less-restrictive conditions starting May 15. Please click here to review those guidelines from the Governor's office. It's important to note that during these phases of reopening, it is key for everyone's health to still maintain six feet of distance from people and wear a cloth mask when you are out in public. Everyone still needs to isolate at home if you feel sick. Those vital rules will be with us for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, we've seen other states reassess their attempted reopenings after upticks in infections. Please be safe and be well!
With all indications pointing to a painful state revenue forecast, Gov. Brown has directed state agencies to prepare for 17 percent budget reductions through June 2021. You can review the Governor's announcement with that direction here. The next quarterly revenue forecast will be released next Tuesday, May 19. I'll share details in my next e-update.
As promised in my May e-bulletin, a link to the recording of virtual town hall on reopening that my Lane County legislative colleagues and I hosted on May 5 with guests Linda Roman from the Governor's office and Karen Gaffney from Lane County Public Health can be found here.
Finally, please remember to vote by May 19! Besides voting for candidates, there are local measures on the ballot. Information about these is available in the state voters' pamphlet. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. (This year, postage is prepaid thanks to SB 861 which the Legislature passed last year!) If you don't mail your ballot by today, May 14, you should use an official drop box to ensure that your ballot arrives in time to be counted. (Please remember that all mail is being processed through Portland, which can cause delays.) A list of Douglas County drop site locations can be found here. A list of official locations in Lane County can be found here.
Below you will find information on:
- Latest Oregon COVID-19 Infection Data
- Medicare COVID-19 Enrollment Flexibility
- Capitol Virtual Tours Help with Distance Learning
- Primary Resource Links
I hope this information is helpful and informative for you or someone you know. As always, feel free to share your comments, questions or concerns with me by phone, mail or e-mail.
Latest Oregon COVID-19 Infection Data
As of May 14, 2020, our state has experienced the following number of positive cases and deaths attributable to COVID-19:
- 3,407 cases in Oregon
- 86,679 people tested for COVID-19 in Oregon
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137 deaths reported in Oregon
Medicare COVID-19 Enrollment Flexibility
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced action to ensure beneficiaries have access to the critical health care coverage they need in the wake of COVID-19. CMS will provide "equitable relief" in the form of extra time for certain eligible beneficiaries to enroll in Part B or premium-Part A, or refuse automatic Part B enrollment.
In addition, eligible beneficiaries will not be subject to a late enrollment penalty for the period between the original enrollment period and the enrollment during this extension of the enrollment period. Beneficiaries are eligible for equitable relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic if they were unable to make their Part A or Part B enrollment choice in a timely manner to file an application or enrollment election due to delays and problems of the Social Security Administration field offices being closed.
Equitable relief is retroactive to March 17, 2020. You can click here to read the frequently asked questions for more detail.
The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program's Medicare counselors are available to help answer questions for beneficiaries, caregivers, and other interested stakeholders Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 1-800-722-4134 or e-mailing shiba.oregon@oregon.gov.
Capitol Virtual Tours Help with Distance Learning
Last month, the state capitol Visitor Services team sent a letter to schools and educational partners with links to the capitol's virtual tour, online lesson plans, and the capitol YouTube channel to support virtual classrooms. While nothing is quite like the real-life 121-step ascension from the Capitol's fourth floor to its observation deck to view the "Gold Man," Visitor Services reports an increase in use of the virtual tour since schools have launched distance learning.
Primary Resource Links
Here's a list of government resources that you may find useful:
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