Cover Oregon

Shifting blame: State may sue

Written May 30th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

If you want to avoid taking responsibility in government, sue somebody. That’s the formula now being followed by Governor Kitzhaber. He wants to sue Oracle, the company the state paid to develop its Cover Oregon website.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Cover Oregon, Governor Kitzhaber, health insurance exchange, Oracle

The limits of automation

Written April 28th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

If it weren’t for all the money swooshing down the drain, you could find a silver lining in all the news about Oregon’s failed ventures in high technology. The failures remind us that not everything can or should be automated, and even if it can, it might not be a good idea.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Cover Oregon, failures of automation, IT projects, Oregon Benefits Online, The Oregonian

Dennis Richardson’s quest for governor

Written April 2nd, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 4 responses.

Oregon has not elected a Republican governor since Vic Atiyeh won his second term in 1982. Dennis Richardson hopes to end the GOP drought this year. In Albany Wednesday night, he spoke and answered questions. And from what I heard, I’d say he has a shot.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Cover Oregon, Dennis Richardson, John Kitzhaber, Linn County Republicans, Oregon governor

Forget ‘exchange;’ what about health?

Written March 21st, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

Governor Kitzhaber says he’s angry about the all the mistakes by state officials that resulted in the Cover Oregon health insurance website or “exchange” still not working properly. But that trouble is about insurance and bureaucracy, two words that are almost synonymous. And it is small and temporary compared to what’s likely to happen with […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Cover Oregon, Governor Kitzhaber, health insurance, Oregon Health Authority

Kitzhaber doesn’t know?

Written February 2nd, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

Governor Kitzhaber has worked on health care and insurance reform since the 1980s. It’s what he is known for. He’s supposed to be the expert. When he was out of office during the Kulongoski years, he gave impressive speeches on his vision of how medical costs could be curtailed and insurance coverage be provided for […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Cover Oregon, Governor iKitzhaber, Oregon health care

Legislation could wait

Written January 27th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

The most contentious issues facing the coming legislative session confirm the old-fashioned view that annual meetings of the Oregon Legislative Assembly were not necessary after all. (And no, this has nothing to do with leaf blowers and whether it’s a good idea to use them to raise clouds of dust on a city street.)

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: background checks, Columbia River Crossing, Cover Oregon, gun registration, marijuana, Oregon legislature

Big money, no results

Written December 16th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

It’s not super surprising that Oregon and the federal government have had trouble setting up their online “exchanges” for people to apply for and purchase medical insurance. They’ve made it too complicated. What’s surprising is how much Oregon has spent on this venture without getting results.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Affordable Care Act, Cover Oregon