Oregon Health Plan

I explored the website of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. As I was exploring this website, I found a few things incredibly fascinating underneath tab of "Our Issues". Since I have taken many Women Studies classes, it didn't surprise me that some of the "Our Issues" addressed the limited health care that Latina women receive, or one could say don't have access to.

"For 30 years, low-income women on Medicaid have been unjustly prevented from accessing one of the safest and more important procedures a woman can have- an abortion"

I knew that there were many states that didn't allow abortions. It got me to thinking about our state's health plan, also known as the Oregon Health Plan. After doing a little research, I found that in order to be eligible for the Medicaid, you must meet the following:

"The OHP Standard program provides free or low-cost health care coverage to Oregon Residents who have limited income, are ages 19 or older, and do not qualify for traditional Medicaid."

Also while I was digging up some more information, I found this statement:

"Beginning September 1, 2006, a new federal law requires most people who are applying for medical benefits to show proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of identity."

This means, all legal and illegal immigrants are ineligible for the Oregon Health Plan which includes health care for the mother and the baby (up until the age of 1), it also includes Pap Smear, Pregnancy Tests, Screenings for the sexually transmitted diseases and infections, abortions, testing and counseling for AIDS and HIV. Pregnant clients are not charged premiums or copayments. Also available to women, men and teens: Family planning visits (physical exam and contraceptive education, Contraceptive supplies, such as oral contraceptives and condoms, Sterilization services (tubal ligations and vasectomies).

As I kept reading though, "clients on the CAWEM Emergency Medical benefit package who are pregnant and live in one of the following counties will be eligible for CAWEM Plus coverage. The counties included Benton, Jackson, Clackamas, Lincoln, Deschutes, Multnomah and Hood River. By specifying where people had to reside, it would make the Oregon Health Plan "locationism" (sorry to make up the ism)

Now that I have learned so much about the Oregon Health Plan and how it limits a lot of minorities. I decided to look up Oregon's illegal immigration numbers, according to usimmigrationsupport.org, there are estimated to be 270,000 illegal immigrates in the state of Oregon, approximately 7 percent of the overall population. I couldn't find any information about the number of legal immigrants in Oregon.

What this means, is about 7-15% of Oregonians are not able to receive the "public" health plan that is designed and has a mission statement "To plan and implement medical programs assuring access to basic care for eligible clients"

Clearly we have a situation...