1 April 2014
Cover Oregon troubles mean extra month to apply
Yesterday was the national deadline to apply for health insurance for this year under the Affordable Care Act. But, because the Cover Oregon website was botched so badly, Oregonians have been given an extra month to sign up.
The 30-day extension, announced last week, means residents can apply for coverage until April 30.
Cover Oregon still doesn’t allow the general public to enroll online from start to finish in one sitting.
To boost enrollments, especially among young people, Oregon is rolling out a last minute $1 million ad campaign on television, online, and via social media.
Thus far, a total of 178,000 Oregonians have enrolled in coverage through Cover Oregon. About 55,000 of those enrolled in private health plans, while nearly 123,000 enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s version of Medicaid.
Decrease in Capacity Based Release
In February of last year nearly 400 prisoners in the Lane County Jail had been released early because of a lack of space. Most of those released had been accused of crimes, but not yet faced trial. But, many of them had already been judged guilty of property or personal crimes and let go early after serving only a fraction of their sentences.
Fast forward 12 months and factor in the results of a voter approved special tax levy to fund jail operations and you have a far different story.
In the first two weeks of February this year only one sentenced inmate was released early and no pre-trial releases were incurred. The picture changed only slightly in the second half of the month according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, which reported this week that 15 prisoners… 12 pre-trial… three post-sentenced… were released bringing the month’s total to 16.
Psych Patient Found
Police say a 60-year-old patient missing from the Oregon State Hospital in Salem has been found in Corvallis.
Gregory A. Page was reported missing Saturday when hospital workers made hourly rounds. Police say there’s no evidence he had help escaping.
Page was found guilty except for insanity in 1994 after he was charged in Lane County with attempted murder. He was accused of shooting a man he had been harassing in Florence.
At the hospital, Page lived in a group home on the grounds but outside the institution’s secure perimeter. The Oregon Health Authority didn’t consider him dangerous.
In Corvallis, police said, medics got a call to a park Sunday afternoon, and a doctor suspected Page had given a false name.
It’s not known how he got to Corvallis.
Our Town
A major expansion of the annual Florence Community Health Fair to three days; medical care options in Florence; Landslide insurance; Honor Flights for World War Two Veterans and a little Shakespeare will headline conversations during tomorrow afternoon’s Our Town on KCST.
The first half of the program will feature Karl Newman with the Northwest Insurance Council; Dr. Phillip Taggert with McKenzie Primary Care Associates in Florence; as well as Linda Lydick and Scott Stewart with the Health Fair. There will also be a brief talk about the upcoming production of the LCC Theater Department’s Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Florence Events Center.
In the second half of the program, World War Two vets Harley Youngblood, Dick Smith and Bob Jackson will talk about their visits last year to the National World War Two Memorial courtesy of Honor Flights. Joining that conversation will be South Willamette Valley Honor Flights Director Mike Pungercar.
Our Town airs from four to six pm tomorrow on KCST.