71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2016
 
                           B-Engrossed
 
                         House Bill 2515
                   Ordered by the House July 5
      Including House Amendments dated March 26 and July 5
 
Sponsored by Representative KRUSE (at the request of Interim
  House Health and Human Services Committee)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
    { - Appropriates funds to Oregon Department of Administrative
Services for allocation to foundations that promote improved
health care services and increased access to health care in rural
areas. - }
   { +  Provides method for determining moneys from Medicaid
Upper Payment Limit Account to be transferred to Oregon Rural
Health Association. Requires Oregon Rural Health Association to
use moneys to award Rural Health Viability Grants to promote
improved health care services and increased access to quality
health care in rural areas.
  Establishes maximum limit for transfer of moneys to Oregon
Rural Health Association for biennium beginning July 1, 2001. + }
  Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2001.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to funding for access to rural health care; and
  declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + For the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, the
Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall transfer to
the Oregon Rural Health Association 11.2 percent of the moneys
remaining in the Medicaid Upper Payment Limit Account established
in section 1, chapter 405, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled Senate Bill
963), after the department has transferred to the Oregon Health
and Science University public corporation the amount required in
section 2, chapter __, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled Senate Bill
5536), and has transferred to the Department of Education for the
State School Fund the amount required in sections 5 and 6,
chapter __, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled Senate Bill 5514). + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) From moneys received under section 1 of
this 2001 Act, the Oregon Rural Health Association shall award
Rural Health Viability Grants to promote improved health care
services and increased access to quality health care in rural
areas of this state. Only rural health care providers may apply
for a Rural Health Viability Grant. An applicant seeking a Rural
Health Viability Grant shall submit a written application to the
association on the form specified by the association.
  (2) The association may award to rural health care providers
grants that promote any of the following goals:
  (a) Replacement or renovation of aging rural hospitals.
  (b) Modernization of capital equipment.
  (c) Preservation of access to local health services in rural
areas through short-term support of vulnerable rural health care
providers.
  (d) Expanded community health educational opportunities.
  (e) Incentives for the development of long-term, sustainable
approaches to providing improved health care services and
increased access to quality health care in rural areas.
  (f) Collaborative approaches that sustain access to quality
rural health care.
  (g) Expanded or sustained health care for financially and
physically vulnerable rural populations.
  (h) Operational support for rural health centers that are not
federally qualified health centers. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + Notwithstanding any other law, the amount of
$15,000,000 is established for the biennium beginning July 1,
2001, as the maximum limit for the transfer of moneys by the
Oregon Department of Administrative Services to the Oregon Rural
Health Association under section 1 of this 2001 Act. + }
  SECTION 4. { +  This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1,
2001. + }
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