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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today it was disappointing to hear that we had a positive COVID case at the Capitol. We still held remote committee meetings in our offices. We voted on three bills on the floor before the Speaker was notified by the Human Resource Department. We will work from home the rest of the week or maybe find out where certain folks were exposed or not. We need to keep working and keep our goals in mind.
2021 Session Committee Assignments
Joint Committee On Ways and Means
Joint Committee On Transportation - Co-Chair
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources
Joint Committee On the Interstate 5 Bridge - Co-Chair
Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Education - Co-Chair
2019-2020 Joint Emergency Board
Watch all Oregon State Legislature Live-Streams and Meetings HERE
Track all 2021 Session Bills HERE
HB 3185 - The Ditch Fix Bill
In 2019, the Legislature successfully passed House Bill 2437 (2019), which established the Agricultural Channel Maintenance Program. The maintenance of agricultural drainage ditches is critical to maintaining healthy functional farmland in the wet parts of the state. HB 2437 (2019) successfully created a process for authorizing ditch cleaning that is workable for farmers while ensuring that ecological values associated with ditches are maintained and protected.
There is one aspect of the Agricultural Channel Maintenance Program that is left unclear. Under the current statute, it could be interpreted that the program allows for the placement of materials removed from traditionally maintained channels to be placed in wetlands. It was not the intent of the program to allow placement of material in undisturbed wetlands, either temporarily or permanently. The intent was to limit placement of material to farmed or previously impacted wetlands.
House Bill 3185 provides statutory language specifying that material removed from traditionally maintained channels during maintenance activities cannot be placed on or in undisturbed wetlands, either temporarily or permanently. This is a simple yet important clarification to ensure that the program honors the ecological values associated with ditches.
House Bill 3185 is the result of extensive conversations involving the Oregon Farm Bureau, WaterWatch, The Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited to ensure that the fix put forward protects the intent of the Agricultural Channel Maintenance Program.
We have a hearing and work session on this bill on 4/8/21 at 3:15pm. The hearing may be watched here.
HB2508 – The Telehealth Bill
What the bill does: Comprehensively updates Oregon telehealth statutes, including all three legs of health care – physical, behavioral and oral health – the means of care delivery, and payment requirements for OHA and commercial insurance carriers.
Telehealth expansion is one of the signal successes of COVID-19 response. For nearly a year, state and federal regulators, insurers, Medicaid CCOs and providers have worked together to expand access to health care through video and voice communication, including payment parity, and moved telehealth from a nice-to-have, add-on service to a central means of care.
When COVID-19 forced many medical offices to stop routine, in-person care, the provider and payor communities, with regulators’ support, pivoted to increase access to telehealth through technological innovation, capital investment and a major adjustment in workflows, often across state borders.
Consumers responded, dramatically increasing their use of virtual visits, and reserving in-office visits for encounters that only can be effectively done in person.
Telehealth use remains well above pre-COVID-19 levels and has especially expanded access to behavioral health services. Many patients now engage in a combination of in-person and telehealth encounters, and data show that these means of care complement rather than duplicate each other.
All of Oregon’s Medicaid Coordinated Care Organizations and, although not required to do so, many commercial insurance carriers (until June 30) have extended coverage to all telehealth “modalities,” such as voice-only or live web-based video, at payment parity with in-person visits. It is not hard to see why:
- Removes many barriers to access. Psychiatrists report using telehealth to reach 85% of patients at the height of the pandemic, versus negligible numbers pre-COVID.
- Improves continuity of care: Far fewer patients miss appointments, and telehealth enables convenient and efficient follow ups. For those patients least able to travel, telehealth is a godsend. A children’s hospital in Portland reports that telehealth has enabled it to continue serving medically fragile children across a multi-state service area without pandemic interruptions.
- Telehealth parity aligns with Oregon’s broad health policy goals: Increases access and quality while reducing the rise of consumer costs. As a “natural evolution of health care into the digital age, not another type of care,” as the NCQA describes it, telehealth may be incorporated in value-based provider-payer contracts—which account for only around 6% of commercially-covered Oregon primary care—just as in-person care may be.
- Saves significant costs as patients seek out telehealth care instead of going to emergency rooms or urgent care clinics for worrisome symptoms.
- Consumers are not begging to fall back to time-consuming driving or mass transit to appointments they’ve discovered can be handled from the comfort of home via telehealth
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As a former teacher, education is one of my top priorities. I’d like to take a moment and thank two resilient teachers who go above and beyond for our district’s students!
Big thank you to Erica DeBois, a civics and community service and U.S. history teacher at CenturyLink High School who has adapted community service opportunities and created creative forms of engagement for her students during the pandemic.
Another big thank you to Eva Conway, a Forest Grove Community first and second grade teacher who continues to overcome the hurdles of teaching during the pandemic by incorporating fun activities for her students to learn and maintain strong relationships with their peers.
Governor Kate Brown Orders Flags Lowered to Half-Staff to Honor the Victims of the Tragedy in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area
*This announcement comes from Governor Kate Brown’s Press Release.
- Governor Kate Brown today ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff until sunset, March 22, 2021, to honor and remember the victims of the shooting in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.
- "The violent attack in Georgia and the rise in racist hate crimes against Asian communities — including in Oregon — are absolutely unacceptable and must stop,” said Governor Brown. “Dan and I send our condolences to the families and friends of the eight individuals who were killed. To the Asian community in Oregon: I feel your pain and I stand with you. I remain committed to doing the hard work to build a more equitable and just Oregon.”
- The full Presidential Proclamation is available at the White House’s website.
Governor Kate Brown Announces Accelerated Vaccination Timelines
*This announcement comes from Governor Kate Brown’s Press Release.
- In a press briefing with the Oregon Health Authority, Governor Kate Brown today announced Oregon’s accelerated vaccination prioritization timelines.
- The Governor was joined by Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Director; Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Epidemiologist; and Holden Leung, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Health & Service Center.
- Starting March 22, counties that can attest to largely finishing vaccinations for Oregonians 65 and older can move to the next prioritization groups. No later than March 29, vaccinations may begin for Phase 1B, Group 6, which includes people aged 45 and older with underlying conditions and some groups most vulnerable to COVID-19. On April 19, vaccinations may begin for Phase 1B, Group 7, which includes all frontline workers and people with underlying conditions aged 16-44. On May 1, all Oregonians age 16 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
- A full summary of Oregon’s accelerated vaccination timelines is available here.
Video Links
- A recording of today's live-streamed press conference is available here. Please note the video starts at the 31:30 mark.
- A recording of a Spanish language translation is available on OHA's Facebook page here. Please note the video starts at the 1:03 mark.
- An HD recording of today's press conference for members of the media is available here. Please note, the video starts at the 20:48 mark.
--> A copy of the Governor's prepared remarks from today's press conference is available here.
--> More information on vaccines is available at covidvaccine.oregon.gov.
Promise of more vaccine doses moves up eligibility timeline
*This announcement comes from the Oregon Health Authority Press Release.
No internet access to schedule your vaccine? 211 can help
*This announcement comes from the Oregon Health Authority Press Release.
New today: 'How to Find a Vaccine' webpages launch in English and Spanish
*This announcement comes from the Oregon Health Authority Press Release.
Today, we launched a new page to help you get vaccinated. The new "How to Find a Vaccine" page – available in English and in Spanish – guides you through the process, identifying:
- Who can get a vaccine.
- Why to create a Get Vaccinated Oregon account.
- Where to find a vaccine, including links to the CDC Vaccine Finder, pharmacy options and your local public health authority.
It also includes information about preparing for a vaccine appointment and what you can expect afterward.
We also published refreshed versions of covidvaccine.oregon.gov and vacunacovid.oregon.gov to make them easier to navigate.
As we learn more about updates to eligibility groups and other resources, these pages will be updated.
National Numbers:
- Confirmed Cases: 29,652,483
These national numbers come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can view their national and state by state data here.
Oregon Status Report:
- Oregon now has 162,000 total cases (confirmed and presumptive) of COVID-19.
- Today we have 381 new confirmed and presumptive cases, and 4 new deaths.
- A total of 2,374 Oregonians have died from COVID-19.
(previous daily case updates from OHA here)
- Washington County has 21,848 confirmed cases, including 221 deaths. You can review on-going updates from OHA by clicking on the table below.
The Oregon Health Authority recently provided a Public Health Indicators Dashboard to enable communities across Oregon to monitor COVID-19 in the state.The dashboard, which will be updated weekly on Thursdays, provides a transparent report that presents complex epidemiological data in an interactive, easy-to-understand way on a state and county level.
New capacity limits for outdoor rec and outdoor entertainment
*This announcement comes from the Oregon Health Authority Press Release.
- Under the direction of Governor Kate Brown, outdoor capacity limits have been updated for outdoor recreation and fitness as well as outdoor entertainment for Oregon counties.
- As of March 17, all Oregon counties may allow the following:
- Lower risk: Maximum 50% occupancy
- Moderate risk: Maximum 25% occupancy
- High risk: Maximum 15% occupancy
- Extreme risk: Maximum 50 people
For updated outdoor capacity limits, please refer to the Sector Risk Level Guidance Chart.
Washington County Supportive Housing Services Partner Feedback Sessions on March 24th or March 26th
--> An interactive event to engage supportive housing service providers
- Washington County will host two feedback sessions with organizations interested in partnering with Washington County to provide services through the new Supportive Housing Services (SHS) on Wednesday, March 24th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday, March 26th 12:00 p.m.
- The Coalition of Communities of Color will help facilitate a dialogue on what organizations need to become supportive housing services provider partners with Washington County.
- The partner feedback session will be hosted on the County’s Zoom platform. To RSVP and obtain meeting access information, please visit the Eventbrite Registration Page.
- Interpretation will be made available by request. To request a language, please indicate your language preference with the RSVP or contact the County Administrative Office via email at equity@co.washington.or.us or by phone at 503-846-6288, no later than March 20th.
At this event, you’ll:
- Learn about future contracting opportunities with Washington County Supportive Housing Services and answer the question “What is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)?”
- Hear from a Washington County leadership about the commitment to advance equity through our procurement process in the Supportive Housing Services Program.
- Hear from the Coalitions of Communities of Color about the need and opportunity to center Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Immigrants and Refugees in Washington County’s Supportive Housing Services program.
- Influence RFQ development from your input provided at this meeting.
- Participants will join a facilitated breakout session during the zoom meeting to answer, what does your organization need to be successful in this process and as a service provider? Participants can also share input through the linked survey below.
- Please register for only one of the two available dates Eventbrite Registration Page. The information shared at each event will be the same. Please limit registration to organizational staff who lead your programs and contracting efforts, and no more than four participants from each organization.
- In addition to joining the feedback session, please take this Washington County Supportive Housing Services survey: https://washingtonhhs.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/preview/SV_2cusl73kIvxK210?Q_CHL=preview&Q_SurveyVersionID=current
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Hillsboro Municipal Court reopens for in-person hearings
*This announcement comes from the Hillsboro NewsTimes.
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As of March 1, people can once again address citations for violations at the Hillsboro Municipal Court in person, after the court reopened due to declining COVID-19 case counts.
- Amy Anderson, manager of the court, says the court has implemented multiple changes during the pandemic to allow people to address their cases without having to physically appear in person.
- Despite the changes, Judge David Veverka says it's good local COVID-19 case numbers have declined enough to allow people to proceed with cases in person.
- The Hillsboro Municipal Court closed down for a few months early in the pandemic last spring. It opened back up last June, as state guidelines permitted, but several months later, it closed down again in November due to soaring case counts. It remained closed until earlier this month.
Hillsboro Hops expect to have fans for Opening Day
*This announcement comes from the Hillsboro NewsTimes.
- A tweak to the way Oregon will limit capacity at outdoor recreation and entertainment venues could mean cheering fans at Ron Tonkin Field when the Hillsboro Hops' long-awaited 2021 season gets underway.
- The Hops are scheduled to open their season at home on May 4. It's the earliest start date ever for the Hops, who previously were a Class A Short Season team but will now play an extended season as part of the new High-A West circuit.
- The minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, boasts consistently strong attendance numbers at the ballpark, which has a maximum capacity of 4,500.
- But with Oregon's health and safety restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it wasn't clear that the Hops would be able to open the gates and welcome in fans by the time the season starts.
→ The change means the Hops could potentially allow more than 1,000 spectators on Opening Day, although it will be up to the team and stadium operator, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation, to decide.
→ For their part, the Hops greeted the announcement with exuberance.
Recreation Status Map Launches Today
A new map launched today showing the status of popular trails, parks and campgrounds -- just in time for Oregonians gearing up for spring adventures. Designed to inform people of fire impacts, restoration efforts and hazardous areas, Oregon’s natural resource agencies and outdoor recreation partners created this site status map in collaboration with federal land management agencies. Showing open, closed and reduced service areas on a single map - regardless of reason for closure and across multiple jurisdictions - this helpful tool provides a one-stop-shop for Oregonians and visitors alike. Some closed recreation areas are unsafe to enter due to the danger of slides or damaged trails while other areas have ongoing recovery operations and activities. Due to safety concerns, citations or fines may be issued if people enter posted closed areas. Plan ahead and know before you go to help reduce risk, minimize impacts to recovery efforts and recreate responsibly.
Free private well testing for wildfire-impacted properties
Apply for a voucher online or mail in a paper application. OHA recommends using this assessment to determine the damage level and testing needs of the well. If your application is approved, OHA will mail you a voucher that covers the testing cost for Arsenic, Nitrate, Bacteria, Lead, and depending on the damage assessment results, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX). Exchange the voucher for testing services at an OHA-contracted lab in your area and submit a water sample. The lab will return the results to you and OHA. OHA will provide recommendations if results are high. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is providing free private well testing vouchers to well users impacted by the 2020 Oregon wildfires. Apply now through May 15, 2021 at https://go.usa.gov/xAycC. How the well testing voucher works: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. More information, eligibility criteria and applications are online. The application deadline is May 15 2021. If you need more time, just let OHA know by going here. Contact domestic.wells@dhsoha.state.or.us or 971-673-0440 for questions.
Wildfire Recovery Resources
OEM has put together this list of contacts to help speed up the process of replacing these documents:
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Green cards: Phone (800)-375-5283; Website: www.uscis.gov
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Medicare cards: Phone: (800)-772-1213; (TTY) (800)-325-0778 Website: www.medicare.gov
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Military records Phone: 866-272-6272 Website: www.archives.gov/contact/
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Passport Phone: 877-487-2778; (TTY) 888-874-7793 Website: travel.state.gov
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Social Security card Phone: 800-772-1213; (TTY) 800-325-0778 Website: www.ssa.gov
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U.S. Savings Bonds Phone: 844-284-2676 Website: www.treasurydirect.gov
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U.S. tax returns Phone: 800-829-1040 Website: www.irs.gov
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Birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership, divorce certificates Phone: 888-896-4988 Website: www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Birthdeathcertificates
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Driver’s license, auto titles and registration, ID cards Phone: 503-945-5000 Website: www.oregon.gov/odot
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SNAP (Oregon Trail Card) Website: www.oregon.gov/DHS/Assistance/Food-Benefits
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State taxes (Oregon Dept. of Revenue) Phone: 503-378-4988 or 800-356-4222 TTY: All relay calls are accepted. Website: www.oregon.gov/dor
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Real estate and property - Contact your county government.
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Credit cards - Contact your credit card company directly.
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Credit reports from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion Phone: 877-322-8228 Website: www.annualcreditreport.com
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Insurance documents - Check with your insurance agent.
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Medical records - Call your doctor or your medical insurance company; medical and prescription records are tracked electronically.
The Governor’s office has put together a Wildfire Resources page that you can access from the Governor’s home page. It has links to many of the most important updates about the status of fires and resources for evacuees. This website will be updated regularly.
Legal Resources: Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Program, Oregon lawyers, through the Oregon State Bar, are partnering with FEMA and the American Red Cross to provide legal assistance on FEMA claims, contract claims, insurance claims, landlord-tenant matters and more.
The Department of Forestry’s Wildfire Response and Recovery Overview has ongoing updates about firefighting efforts, damage reports, and more.
FEMA Updates: FEMA has provided several different Fact Sheets and resources for accessing benefits, determining eligibility and avoiding scams.
American Rescue Plan extending pandemic unemployment benefits for thousands in Oregon
- The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law extends Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PUEC) benefits from March into September for thousands in the Rogue Valley and across the country.
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- The American Rescue Plan represents the third addition to unemployment insurance programs seen during the pandemic, going back to the initial establishment of pandemic assistance in the C.A.R.E.S Act of March 2020, and the extension of benefits created through the Continued Assistance Act in December. Oregon had been the only state in the nation not to waive the waiting week payment period during the pandemic, before finally acquiescing in late November.
- According to Sen. Ron Wyden (D - Oregon) at a town hall last week, the American Rescue Plan brings $5 billion overall into the state of Oregon, which includes $1 billion in payments to rural governments and tribes. The bill also includes money for a new approach to mental health crisis counseling, known as 'CAHOOTS', pioneered out of Eugene.
Help with Weekly Claims
We know that unemployment insurance benefits are essential lifelines and, from a claimant’s perspective, it can feel like guidance about these programs changes frequently. We’re trying to make these programs easier to follow and understand so claimants are able to determine what they need to do to continue to receive benefits. We hope this guide can help folks who have questions about their benefits and want to know everything we know as we await further guidance from the Department of Labor.
This information is a general guide and circumstances unique to each claimant might affect the more general guidance below. If you still have questions after reading the guide, please reach out via the contact form on our website: https://unemployment.oregon.gov/contact-us.
We will send updates over social media and email when we have new guidance to share.
You should FILE A NEW CLAIM:
- If your benefit year has expired under Regular Unemployment Insurance (Regular UI)—even if you have PEUC benefits remaining; or
- If your benefits have expired and been exhausted under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program (PEUC); or
- If you receive a notification in the Online Claims System, requesting that you file a new claim. You will only receive such a notification within OCS if you need to file a new claim in order to continue receiving benefits.
If your benefits have expired in either Regular UI or PEUC, keep the following in mind as you file a new claim:
- If your benefits have expired and you do not file a new claim, your benefits will stop.
- A regular UI claim benefit year expires one year after filing. An “expired claim” means that the benefit year has ended for that claim.
- For example: If you first filed for unemployment benefits on March 13, 2020, your benefit year expired on March 13, 2021. You would need to file a new claim.
- After you file a new claim, our claim specialists will determine if you are eligible for that new claim.
- If you are eligible for a new claim, you will continue filing weekly on the new claim.
- If you are not eligible for a new claim, you will be moved back to your old claim and will receive benefits under PEUC.
- If you did not work in 2020, report your wages as “zero.”
- Be sure to file a new claim only if your benefit year has expired. If your benefits are still active, you should continue filing weekly under your current claim (see next section for more information).
You should CONTINUE FILING under your current claim:
1. If your claim is still active, no matter the program: Regular UI, PUA, and PEUC.
a. You should continue filing under your current claim if you still have benefits available; or
b. If you have “exhausted” your benefits.
2. If you have an expired Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claim.
a. This will allow us to determine if you are eligible for benefits under the new benefit programs, as soon as we receive guidance from the Department of Labor.
b. Some PUA claimants have received letters in the mail instructing them to file a new claim under PUA. Ignore the instructions included in that letter and continue filing your current PUA claim.
3. If you are unsure of which program you are supposed to file under.
a. If you are currently receiving benefits and are not sure if one of the above scenarios applies to you: continue filing under your current claim and reach out to us via the contact form on our website with your follow-up questions: https://unemployment.oregon.gov/contact-us
Unemployment Benefits and “COVID-19 related situations”
Despite the positive trajectory in recent months, our economy is still far from a full recovery as the pandemic continues.
Businesses throughout the state are hiring, but many workers still face significant barriers to returning to work. Oregon workers can still receive unemployment benefits if they turn down an offer of work for a reason related to COVID-19, but if they turn down suitable work without having what the law defines as “good cause,” they will lose their eligibility for benefits.
OED’s temporary rule put into place in March 2020, shares an exhaustive list of the “COVID-19 related situations” in which someone can still receive benefits. Some of those reasons include:
● Inability to work because they are ill with COVID-19;
● Staying home to care for a family member who is suffering from COVID-19 or who is subject to mandatory quarantine;
● Being required to work in conditions that violate COVID-19 related safety standards.
Employers can let us know if employees or new hires are not showing up for work and do not provide a “COVID-19 related reason,” or if offers of work are turned down. This will allow us to ensure benefits are going to those who meet eligibility requirements, including accepting offers of suitable work.
OED Services for Employers
We want to hear from employers who are seeing trends in the problems they’ve encountered recruiting and hiring new employees. We can help find folks ready to work and can help those seeking work develop in-demand skills.
Employers can post job listings on www.iMatchSkills.org—our virtual employment marketplace where employers are matched with qualified job seekers and qualified job seekers with job listings, tailored to their experiences and skills.
Employers can also access our Work Share program, which can be used to recall workers part time. The American Rescue Plan extended the federal payment of those Work Share benefits through September 4, 2021. This means ARP pays the entire cost of unemployment insurance benefits, not the employer.
Our full suite of support for employers can be found on the Businesses page on our website, with resources dedicated to this economic period on our unemployment website.
Job Search with OED
In addition to providing essential benefits, OED also helps Oregon workers find new jobs and careers, matched to their skills. There are a number of ways your constituents can access our job search resources on our website. Encourage your constituents to take advantage of our resources to find work; employers throughout the state are posting jobs every day, looking for qualified employees.
· Complete your registration on iMatchSkills.org;
o Create a profile and get matched to jobs. Employers and OED Business Services employees actively search these profiles for job candidates.
● Browse for jobs at oregon.gov/employ;
○ Select "Find a Job" under the Job Seekers section to browse available positions in Oregon.
● Browse for jobs and more at QualityInfo.org;
○ Go to "Find a Job" under Jobs & Careers to use the robust search engine. You can also browse labor market, career, training, local area, and employer information.
● Connect with WorkSource Oregon on LinkedIn; and
● Call us for 1:1 support: Visit the WorkSource Oregon website to find the contact number for your regional office. I’ve also included the contact information here:
○ Bend: 541.388.6070
○ Benton: 541.757.4299
○ Clackamas: 971.353.5001
○ Douglas/Coos/Curry: 1.800.822.3525
○ Eastern Oregon: 1.800.846.9110
○ Grants Pass: 541.476.1187
○ Hood River: 541.386.6300
○ Klamath Falls: 541.883.5630
○ Lane: 541.686.7985
○ Marion: 855.418.8580
○ Medford 541.776.6060
○ Newport/Lincoln City: 541.574.2307
○ City of Portland/Mult.Co.: 503.714.5989
○ Redmond: 541.548.8196
○ St. Helens: 503.397.6495
○ The Dalles: 541.296.5435
○ Washington Co. 503.766.5696
Federal Benefits
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, providing millions of dollars of additional support for unemployed workers. The Continued Assistance Act programs expired last week, which means people are claiming and receiving their last CAA benefits this week. We anticipate that every eligible person receiving benefits will also receive the extra FPUC $300 weekly payment next week.
To coincide with the first week of the ARP programs next week, we hope to pay benefits to those who still have benefits remaining on their PUA or PEUC claims. It will take additional time for us to add in the newly-created ARP benefits for claimants who have used up (or “exhausted”) all of their benefits. We are doing what we can to minimize that additional time.
To stay informed of program changes and other information related to the American Rescue Plan: follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for our weekly email updates in English or Spanish.
Thousands of Oregon workers need our assistance every day, so our workload remains extremely high. We have staffed up and continue to add employees and training, but we know it is still difficult for people to get through to us on the phones. The best way to help us get benefits to people as quickly as possible, and to talk to those people who have to speak with us to get their benefits, is to use the contact form on our website with claim-specific questions, and to look through our website and “Frequently Asked Questions” page for more general information.
We are so glad to be able to begin paying benefits extended by the American Rescue Plan without delay. And remain focused on minimizing any disruption some people are likely to see before we are able to fully implement the PUA and PEUC extensions.
Helpful Links
Our website is always kept up-to-date with information on our programs.
OREGON DMV WILL START ALLOWING ONLINE LICENSE RENEWALS IN MAY
*This announcement comes from KDRV News.
- Many Oregonians may finally be able to skip the DMV queue this May. The Oregon Department of Transportation said on Monday that renewal of driver licenses, permits, and identification cards will be allowed online beginning in early May.
- The new feature on DMV2U.Oregon.Gov is expected to be available as early as May 5, the agency said.
- While some DMV services have previously been available online, the remainder have been relegated to appointment-only sessions at local DMV locations during the pandemic. Timely appointments can be difficult to come by, due to the reduced capacity at DMV offices.
- Even after the new service launches, some things will still require an appointment. Joyce underlined that people seeking a change from a regular license or ID to a Real ID-compliant credential will still need to make an appointment and get it handled in an office.
“This new service is ideal for customers who only need to renew the type of card they currently have,” Joyce said. “Most importantly, it gives you a choice – you may wish to wait until May to renew online instead of setting an appointment and going in person.”
ODOT said that the DMV usually mails renewal reminders about two months prior to expiration, but a "programming error" this winter delayed many of those reminders. Due to the pandemic, Oregon residents who have an expiring registration, permit or license that expires between November 1 of 2020 and April 30 of 2021 have up to three extra months to renew.
What credentials you can renew online starting in May
You will be able to renew your:
- Driver license
- Commercial driver license (except CDL with hazmat or farm endorsement)
- ID card
- Instruction permit
- Motorcycle instruction permit
- Restricted moped-only license
- Disability golf cart driver permit
Online renewal will allow you to make two changes:
Change your address if you have moved.
- Add or remove the organ donation option from your record.
Who can renew online?
In order to qualify for online renewal:
- Your card must be within 12 months of its expiration date.
- Your previous renewal was done in person at a DMV office.
- You are not suspended or owe a reinstatement fee from a previous suspension.
Vision test waived for drivers age 50 and older renewing online
- For the next two years, DMV will postpone the vision test required for drivers age 50 and older who renew online. This will enable more Oregonians to renew online instead of making an appointment at DMV.
- Drivers 50 and older who renew online will be required to pass that screening no later than their next renewal.
2021 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 through Mar. 31)
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period ends soon on March 31. If you take advantage of this open enrollment period, you will have coverage that starts the first day of the month after you enroll. You must have an existing Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1 to use this enrollment period.
During this time, if you already have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can:
- Change to a different Medicare Advantage plan, either with or without drug coverage
- Enroll in a stand-alone Part D (prescription drug) plan, which returns the beneficiary to Original Medicare
NOTE: Signing up for Part D prescription drug coverage is not guaranteed unless you were already in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1. You can make only one change during this enrollment period and can not change from one stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan to another stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
If you need to switch Medicare Advantage plans you can get help by calling 800-722-4134 (toll-free) or find local help using the locator tool at dcbspage.org/SHIBALOCAL. SHIBA counselors provide objective options counseling using the Medicare plan finder tool at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. The 2021 Oregon Guide to Medicare Insurance Plans can be found at https://healthcare.oregon.gov/shiba/Documents/2021_Medicare_Guide.pdf. To order a print version, contact SHIBA by phone at 800-722-4134 (toll-free) or email at shiba.oregon@oregon.gov.
SAVE THE DATE – National Welcome to Medicare Event – June 23, 2021.
Learn about signing up for Medicare! Registration for this free event. Visit https://www.shiptacenter.org/about-medicare/news to learn more.
This virtual Medicare fair is for people new to Medicare. Learn about Medicare – and all its parts - to assist you in your initial enrollment decisions.
Get trusted, unbiased Medicare education to help you make Medicare choices that best meet your needs. There will be national expert presenters on Medicare eligibility, enrollment, and coverage options. There will also be experts from your state health insurance assistance program to answer your individual questions.
Oregon SHIBA Virtual Medicare 101 events
Learn the A, B, C, and D’s of Medicare. Find out when and how to enroll and gain an understanding of costs. Get information on where Medicare recipients in your community can go for help. Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all 2021 presentations and trainings are virtual events.
Medicare 101s will be scheduled once a month until October 2021. Events will be recorded for future viewing. Check back at this link for planned events. https://healthcare.oregon.gov/shiba/get-help/Pages/medicare-presentations.aspx
Employers and Employees
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Oregon Secretary of State’s business resources can be found at www.oregon.gov/smallbusiness or you can email questions to business.sos@oregon.gov.
Education Links
Hillsboro School District (en inglés y español)
Forest Grove School District (en inglés y español)
Oregon Department of Education
COVID-19 Resources for Oregon Higher Education Partners
Local Government
City of Hillsboro (en inglés, español y más idiomas)
City of Cornelius (en inglés, español y más idiomas)
City of Forest Grove (Personal que habla español disponible en este número: (503) 992-3221)
Washington County
Utilities Assistance
Portland General Electric (en inglés y español)
NW Natural
City of Hillsboro Utility Billing
Comcast
CenturyLink
AT&T
City of Forest Grove
Food and Housing Assistance
Community Action.org
Oregon Food Bank
Meals on Wheels
Weekend highlight: Lunch with my daughters!
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-376, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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