Rationing Care: Oregon Changes Its Priorities


 

Publication Date: February 2009

Publisher: National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)

Author(s): Linda Gorman

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Oregon; preventive care; health care; rationing

Type: Brief

Coverage: Oregon

Abstract:

To our knowledge, the Oregon Health Plan is the first government health care program anywhere in the world that has drawn up a formal procedure for rationing. After comment from interested parties, this state health program for low-income people ranks treatment for various diseases and conditions, currently from 1 to 680, in order of priority. The health care dollars available determine which priorities are met. As program costs have grown, the list of covered procedures has become shorter.