Oregon Health Fund Board

Federal Laws Committee

Background and Purpose

The Federal Laws Committee is chartered to provide findings to the Board regarding the impact of federal law requirements on achieving the goals of the OHFB, particularly on barriers to reducing the number of uninsured.  After approval from the OHFB and a period of public comment, the Committee will report its findings to the Oregon congressional delegation.  Current issues under discussion for inclusion in the committee’s report include:

• ERISA Recommendations:

• Asking Congress and the US Department of Labor to create clear policies around issues that can be included in states’ health care reform efforts that do not violate ERISA This policy would clarify for states how to craft their health care reform to comply with ERISA and would protect them from the burden of lawsuits.

• Congress and/or the Department of Labor should amend or clarify ERISA to allow states to collect data from self-insured plans.

• Federal Tax Code Benefits Recommendations:

• The IRS should allow all individuals to directly deduct medical and dental expenses (especially health insurance premiums) from their taxable income without having to itemize on Schedule A.

• Alternately, the IRS could offer a refundable credit against an individual’s tax liability for health insurance premiums.

• The IRS should review and consider changing policies that give self-employed persons fewer business tax benefits for purchasing to health insurance premiums than the business tax benefits that employers receive.

Click to find meeting rosters, bylawys, charter and past meeting agendas.

Top