Universal Health Plan Governance Board Meeting Summaries
The Oregon Universal Health Care Governance Board holds monthly public meetings. They give updates on their progress and allow the public to ask questions and give their feedback. Here you can find summaries of the meetings.
Universal Health Plan Governance Board – June 18, 2026 Summary
Executive Director's Report
The Board received updates on preparation of the final report and future legislative planning.
Special Board meeting scheduled for July 9 to continue revenue discussions.
Legislative Decision Package was not accepted by the agency; Senators Patterson and Manning are pursuing legislative funding and a potential 2028 legislative concept.
Milliman budget analysis completed; Artemis contract concluded.
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Expenditure Analysis
Staff presented updated expenditure projections and revenue targets.
Status quo health spending estimated at $82 billion, excluding dental, vision, and fertility benefits while leaving many Oregonians uninsured.
Estimated UHP spending would increase to approximately $85.5 billion while covering all residents and adding those benefits.
Administrative savings and elimination of uncompensated care are expected to make provider revenue more consistent.
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Community Engagement: Deaf and hard-of-hearing focus group met and recommended communication access standards, interpreter workforce development, and hearing-related benefits.
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Reserve Funding Strategy
The Board reviewed recommendations for startup financing and reserve requirements.
Reserve strategy includes startup, ramp-up, and ongoing operational funding.
Potential funding sources include bonds, state appropriations, and federal funding.
Finance & Revenue Committee recommended:
Three-month operating reserve target
One-month trigger for additional recapitalization
No specific recapitalization mechanism was selected.
Board discussion focused on balancing financial stability, liquidity, and long-term flexibility.
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Revenue Plan
The Board continued refining its revenue proposal.
Approved adding a 0.2% increase to the state lodging tax, increasing the total state lodging tax from 2.5% to 2.7% beginning in 2026. Vote was 7 - 1.
Estimated annual revenue: approximately $5 million.
Legislative Revenue Office will model additional revenue scenarios and recommend tax percentages needed to meet revenue targets.
Board discussion included whether employers should contribute a greater share of funding.
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Implementation Sequencing
The Board discussed three options for transitioning the state to a universal health plan from the status quo: 1) population-phase in, 2) hybrid, and 3) simultaneous transition approaches.
Key discussion points included:
Lessons from Vermont suggested a phased implementation is politically practical.
OR could consider exempting certain populations that would not initially benefit from UHP from paying UHP taxes.
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Public comment:
Pursue legislation to negotiate prescription drug purchasing and pricing.
Launch a legislative and public information campaign to build support for UHP.
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Universal Health Plan Governance Board May Meeting Summary
May 21, 2026
Big Picture
The Board focused on:
Community engagement and public feedback
Administrative savings assumptions and revenue modeling
Revenue policy decisions and final report development
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Community Engagement & Communication
Continued outreach to disability-affected communities.
Town hall survey results to be presented at the next meeting.
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Administrative Savings & Revenue Modeling
Dr. William Hsiao (Harvard) presented on how a unified health system could reduce administrative costs, billing fraud, and duplicative spending.
Board reviewed Billing and Insurance Related (BIR) cost savings assumptions:
Conservative: 7–9%, Moderate: 9–11%, Ambitious: 15–17%
Board adopted a 12% administrative savings assumption.
Milliman expenditure estimates will be revised accordingly.
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Revenue Plan
Board reviewed the final draft of the Revenue Plan from ECOnorthwest.
The Finance & Revenue Committee considered the work unfinished.
The Revenue Plan includes:
Universal Health Plan expenditure targets
Proposed revenue mechanisms
Household and business impact analysis
Reserve recommendation (3-month target, 1-month trigger)
The Legislative Revenue Office is helping convert the proposal into a legislative-ready package.
Tax calculator under development to compare current health care costs with projected Universal Health Plan contributions.
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Revenue Plan Votes
Household Size Rate Readjustment (HSRR)
Would have required larger, higher-income households (>200% of the Federal Poverly Level) to contribute more.
Concerns included increased costs for families and added complexity for voters.
Board voted to remove the HSRR.
Medicare Part B Premiums
Discussion on whether Universal Health Plan should cover premiums for Medicare enrollees, or reimburse enrollees via a tax credit.
Motion passed (7–1) to have Universal Health Plan cover Medicare premiums and eliminate the proposed tax credit.
Vote on the broader revenue strategy was postponed.
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Final Report Development
Work continues on: administrative structure, financing structure, supporting materials (history, public comments, consultant reports)
Updated drafts will continue to be released for Board review.
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Public Comment
Recommendation for a multi-year startup plan.
Concerns that financing proposals could increase costs for families with children.
Concerns that larger families should not pay more simply because they use more health care.
Next Steps
Revise expenditure estimates using the new administrative savings assumption.
Continue public engagement.
Finalize financing recommendations and September report.
