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Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, a Harvard-trained physician who has worked as an ER doctor and a journalist, recently wrote, “Imagine if you paid for an airplane ticket and then got separate and inscrutable bills from the airline, the pilot, the copilot and the flight attendants. That’s how the healthcare market works. In no other industry do prices for a product vary by a factor of ten depending on where it is purchased, as is the case for bills I’ve seen for echocardiograms, MRI scans, and blood tests to gauge thyroid function or vitamin D levels. The price of a Prius at a dealership in Princeton, New Jersey, is not five times higher than what you would pay for a Prius in Hackensack and a Prius in New Jersey is not twice as expensive as one in New Mexico. The price of that care at the very same dealer doesn’t depend on your employer, or if you’re self-employed or unemployed. Why does it matter for healthcare?” (From An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business.)
You and your neighbor have the same chance to get a car for the same price – why should healthcare have such vast inequities built right into the system? The issue of transparency in healthcare is one I intend to focus on in the months ahead. I urge you to reach out to me if you have stories to share about this issue, whether it is related to medical bills, pharmaceutical costs, long-term care, or other healthcare related topics.
Together, we can build an Oregon – including its healthcare system – that works for everyone.
Best regards,
Deb
P.S. The Salem City Club is holding a Forum on transparency in healthcare on May 10th at noon at the Willamette Heritage Center, for which I will serve as moderator. You can learn more about Salem City Club and their upcoming programs here.
2023 - 2024 Community Investments Map
This year, we put our state's resources to work to respond to pressing needs in our community, I am proud to have secured millions of dollars in state funds for projects in Salem, Monmouth, and Independence, including $2 million for housing infrastructure, $11.5 million for addiction treatment services, and $3 million to build a social resource center that includes affordable housing.
For a full map of community investments in Oregon, click here.
 Oregon Leads the Fight Against Hate with the You Belong. Campaign
If you or someone you know has experienced a hate crime, Oregon's confidential Bias Response Hotline is here for you. Trauma-informed operators are available 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday. You can call them at 1-844-924-BIAS (2427) or contact them online at StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov.
Opportunities to Get Involved
- The Governor's Regional Solutions team is relaunching 11 Advisory Committees across the state. Advisory committees are composed of local leaders in the following roles: Convener, County (recommended by AOC), City (recommended by LOC), Business, Philanthropic, Tribal, and Community Based Organizations. Members help determine regional priorities for community and economic development, identify resources and funding, and utilize local connections to advance regional efforts. Applications will be accepted through May 24, 2024. More information on the application process can be found here.
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Oregon Health Authority is seeking members for an upcoming Rules Advisory Committee on dental and visual services. Click here for more information on the proposed changes and meeting dates.
- The Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon is seeking proposals for the Cultural Resources Economic Fund for 2025-2027. Arts and culture organizations with capital construction projects of $150,000 or more are eligible to apply. Click here to learn more.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-411, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/patterson
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