Oregon House committee passes pared down health care reform bill

Hospital and insurance tax also given thumbs up

Oregon’s House Health Care Committee passed a health care reform package that puts the shell of a health authority in place, but leaves the creation of an insurance exchange for another legislative session, all with the support of only one Republican.

It also passed legislation that would increase the tax on urban hospitals and tax insurance carriers for the first time, as well as trigger $1 billion in federal matching funds.

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