Oregon Governor Candidates Avoid Specifics on Medicaid Budget Gap
Oregon faces a Medicaid budget shortfall starting at $421 million in the next budget cycle and growing to an estimated $868 million as federal funding cuts from last year's congressional tax and spending bill phase in, potentially affecting one in three Oregonians and half the state's children on the Oregon Health Plan. OPB reports that neither gubernatorial candidate, Democratic incumbent Tina Kotek nor Republican challenger Christine Drazan, has offered a specific plan to close the gap despite repeated requests for detail. Kotek convened an advisory group that produced more than 40 possible options, including trimming benefits, administrative costs, and provider pay, but has publicly endorsed only centralizing Medicaid prescription drug purchasing, an option estimated to save about $24 million over 18 months. Kotek must submit a proposed budget to the Legislature by Dec. 1, while Drazan, if elected, would have until Feb. 1 to revise it.