Gov. Brown signs cost growth target bill Patrick Jones | May 26, 2021 Share this:
This bill will create “accountability mechanisms” for providers and insurers whose overall costs remain high. Insurance and provider groups will receive civil penalties if they fail to report cost growth data to ensure transparency between themselves and Oregon Health Authority (OHA). House Bill 2081 attempts to strengthen the Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark program first created by Senate Bill 889. The program launched in February 2021. The cost growth target is at 3.4% for the first 5 year going down to 3% in the next 5 years. Right now, the growth rate is at 6.4%. According to Jeremy Vandehey, the director of the health policy and analytics division at OHA, the target could save $16 billion in health care expenses over the next 6 years.