Oregon’s 2027 Legislative Preview: Universal Healthcare

 All information on Oregon’s plan for universal healthcare is on this website:

Universal Health Plan Governance Board

Universal Health Plan Governance Board

The Legislature created the Universal Health Plan Governance Board in 2023 (Senate Bill 1089) to design a publicly funded health care system for Oregon, building on the earlier Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care (Senate Bill 770, 2019). The board is charged with:

• Designing models for a publicly funded health plan covering everyone who lives in Oregon.
• Planning how the plan would be run, how to pay for it, and how it would work statewide.
• Getting input from people living in Oregon, such as health care users, providers, employers, insurers, tribes, and community leaders, as dictated by statute.
• Delivering final recommendations to the Legislature for consideration in 2027.

This work is guided by technical analysis, legal review, economic modeling, and broad public input.

The board has nine members, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. At least five bring expertise in health care delivery, finance, or administration, and four represent community perspectives. By law, at least one member must have personal experience with barriers to care, ensuring that lived experience informs decisions.

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A consultant’s report completed in April 2026 is available to read online. 

The report makes clear that Oregon’s Universal Health Plan depends upon one thing:   

          provider capacity to deal with increased demand.  

The consultant states this in multiple places, mostly toward the end of the report.  The level of Provider reimbursements is the key determinant for retaining and attracting skilled healthcare personnel and keeping facilities operating at a high level.  GOVERNMENT does not solve problems, it creates new ones.   

A lot of Oregon’s doctors are currently deciding not to treat Medicare patients anymore and many doctors have left the state.  Wait times to see a doctor is up while the number of primary care physicians is down.  

The Milliman Report lays bare the facts that Oregon’s plan will make things worse for all and is doomed even before it is implemented.  Will that stop Democrat politicians from approving it?  Heck no!  Agenda over logic now and always.  Willful ignorance is alive and well in Salem.

How well does Oregon’s Medicaid program work?

 Not well at all.  

According to the Paragon Health Institute’s new study, Oregon ranks 6th worse in its abuse of the federal Medicaid program through enrollment of ineligible Medicaid recipients.

Next year Oregon hopes to begin its Universal Healthcare program - promising healthcare for all residents regardless of legal status.  Guaranteed healthcare for all becomes a pull for illegal aliens and those from other not-so-generous states to move here. If Medicaid funds are adjusted to their legal limits, Oregon taxpayers will bear the cost of healthcare for ALL.  This is not sustainable.  Our government provides a safety net for all, but not everyone belongs in the net; 

If you were a doctor, would you choose Oregon as a place to work?

Paragon Institute Report on Medicaid Expansion

Medicaid Expansion’s Growing Improper Enrollment Crisis

Nearly Half of Expansion Enrollees Likely Do Not Meet Eligibility Requirements

Excerpt:  (emphasis mine)

Improper enrollment is a nationwide problem, but a handful of states drive a disproportionate share. California alone accounts for roughly 3.1 million improper enrollees—about one-third of the national total—with an estimated ineligible rate of 62 percent. I also find substantial levels of improper enrollment in New York, Louisiana, Oregon, and Washington. Yet the deterioration is broad-based: Of the 32 states that had expanded Medicaid before 2019, improper enrollment increased in 31, and 36 of the 41 expansion states (including the District of Columbia) show detectable improper enrollment in 2024.

These patterns are consistent with the structural incentives facing states. Because the federal government pays at least 90 percent of expansion costs—far above the roughly 60 percent average match for traditional enrollees—states bear almost none of the cost of improper expansion enrollment while reaping the political—and potentially economic—benefits of higher enrollment and more federal funding. The post-pandemic unwinding illustrates the consequences: By mid-2025, traditional Medicaid enrollment had returned close to pre-pandemic levels, but expansion enrollment remained 21 percent above its January 2020 level. The COVID-era enrollment surge in the expansion group, in other words, never reversed.

Improper enrollment is not a victimless accounting problem. It diverts resources from the vulnerable populations Medicaid was designed to serve—children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities—strains the health system, erodes public trust, and imposes tens of billions of dollars in improper costs on federal taxpayers each year.

DUH! How stupid are politicians, academics and idealogues?

How stupid?  A LOT!  

Who would have thought that when colleges use academic skills and achievement testing for admissions, that the result would be students that are ready and able to do college-level work?  Mind-blowing logic.  But logic isn’t the strong suit of social justice warriors.  

It used to be the case that teachers at ALL levels of schooling were smart, well-educated and dedicated to academic excellence. In decades past, the majority of high school students did not go to college but were well-educated for life.  But that was before teacher unions took hold of the “profession”, and before radicals took over universities and sent teacher education down the fad-pedagogy and progressive racist/victim/equity/social justice holes. 

It looks like STEM professors at University of California schools are protesting.  

Wall Street Journal, Editorial. May 28, 2026

The Academy Rethinks the SAT

University of California faculty say that when tests were dropped, student learning fell.

Editorial Board.Excerpt:   Six years ago, in the 2020 year of progressive pandemic madness, the University of California led the Ivory Tower movement to drop standardized tests as an admissions requirement in the name of equity. The experiment has been a failure, as more than 750 professors in STEM disciplines across the UC system now admit in a cri de coeur to reverse course. 

“We now observe preparation gaps so severe that instructors must reteach middle-school mathematics while simultaneously teaching the material students need for sciences, engineering, economics, and other quantitatively demanding fields,” the professors write in an open letter to the Board of Regents signed by seven of nine chairs of UC math departments.

 “Failing to measure preparation gaps does not remove barriers; it moves them into the classroom, where they become harder to overcome,” the professors write. “Obscuring preparation gaps harms both students individually and the University collectively. It offers the appearance of access while undermining the chance of success.” 

A major goal of eliminating the test requirement was to end-run the state constitutional ban on race-based preferences. Another was to obscure educational disparities caused by the state’s union-run public-school system that disproportionately harm minorities.

Wall Street Journal, June 1 2026

University of California Professors Are Begging Schools to Reinstate the SAT

Open letter cites ‘severe preparation deficits’ among incoming students

More than 1,100 University of California math and science professors are urging UC regents to reinstate college-entrance exams, saying that unprepared students are lowering academic standards and draining teaching resources.

The request, delivered in a two-page letter last week, cites a sharp decline in readiness among students studying science, technology, engineering and math. Nearly one-third of students taking first-semester calculus at UC Berkeley “displayed severe preparation deficits,” the letter said.

Wall Street Journal - Letters June 9, 2026

Requiring the SAT Test Boosts Student Success

After we started requiring entrance exams at Chapman University, graduation rates more than doubled.

Excerpt:  The reason for our low graduation rate [at Chapman University] wasn’t hard to find. We found across a large sample of competing schools that the correlation between entrance-exam scores and graduation rates was more than double that for any other admission requirement, including high-school GPAs and class standing. 

Those findings led us to require SAT/ACT entrance exams. We steadily increased the minimum admission score over the 25 years I served as president. That strategy worked: Our graduation rate more than doubled to 79% over that same period. Even more important, our faculty told me that raising the academic bar resulted in a more vibrant classroom experience and a richer campus life.

Jim Doti

Former president, Chapman University

Is Lake Oswego’s negative reputation deserved?

The trope that Lake Oswego is unwelcoming to BIPOC or “historically marginalized” people is FASLE!  

Perhaps the real problem in LO is Envy, White Guilt, a generally negative attitude, a victim complex, or a desire to feel morally superior.  

Obviously, everyone has their preferences about what where they want to live and why - humans are like that.  In a free country it’s called personal choice or self-determination.  I personally put a high premium on a suburban lifestyle.  While this is the lifestyle the majority of people desire, it has been demeaned for several decades by planners, politicians and elites.  That’s OK for them, but not when they foist multifamily density and urbanism for everyone else.  

Why is Lake Oswego popular?  The comments from a Reddit thread below reveal that safety is a huge concern.  Lack of crime and homelessness, physical beauty, quiet neighborhoods, good schools  and a friendly population are top draws.  And NO CRIDDERS!  Sounds logical to me.  The question to ask is why everyplace isn’t like Lake Oswego.  Why isn’t every city safe with good schools, and why don’t citizens demand it?  It’s all about priorities.  

From Best Neighborhoods:

Lake Oswego Diversity Score:  84

With a diversity score of 84 out of 100, Lake Oswego is much more diverse than other US cities.

Data Sources: U.S. Census, proprietary data mapping and analysis. Special thanks to the University of Virginia.

Nearby Cities

• Rivergrove, OR: more diverse
• Durham, OR: more diverse
• Oak Grove, OR: less diverse
• Tigard, OR: more diverse
• Tualatin, OR: more diverse
• West Linn, OR: less diverse
• Milwaukie, OR: less diverse
• King City, OR: more diverse
• Oatfield, OR: less diverse
• Gladstone, OR: more diverse

Cities with Similar Populations

• Brunswick, OH: less diverse
• Cutler Bay, FL: more diverse
• Palm Springs, CA: more diverse
• Thomasville, NC: less diverse
• Columbus, MS: less diverse
• Pickerington, OH: less diverse
• Northville, MI: less diverse
• Pittsfield, MA: less diverse
• Butler, PA: less diverse
• Seguin, TX: more diverse

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From Reddit.com 

Unpopular Opinion - Lake Oswego is a good place

My POC wife kind of wants to retire there if we can afford anything near Millennium Plaza since we could then walk to everything. She just mainly wants to feel safe when walking around.

At one time I thought it might be nice to settle in a condo somewhere DT Portland area. It used to be real expensive to do that. Not so much anymore, but no way she would agree to live there in the current condition.

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Lake Oswego is great if you can afford to live there, the only problem is there’s fuck all to do after like 7pm.

      Reply:        I think that’s kinda the idea. Some people prefer to live where there isn’t much of a nightlife so evenings feel a bit slower and quieter. I loved living off Hawthorne until I had kids and got old.

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I would live in LO tomorrow if I could stand the commute from LO to Gresham every day.

So, I take the LOW road, and live in the alternative: The Alberta Arts District.

It’s still kinda scummy Portland style, with the occasional 4 am gun battle, but it has the charm of being a “walkable” neighborhood.

Also, easy freeway access to get to said office in Gresham in 15 minutes if I time everything right., and no real criddler problems. Yeah.

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I dash for doordash there a lot in my spare time. Super nice area, everyone's friendly, restaurant staff are cheerful, and customers tip well. I really dig the sleepy forested areas. Would be a dream to live there, but wayyyyy out of my price point.

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We moved to LO recently mainly for the schools. Having been here for a few months we can see why the schools are rated so well. If private schools were an option for us we’d consider living in other parts of the metro but it was really a no brainer. Housing is expensive for a reason here, high demand and low supply. For what we paid in LO we could’ve gotten a much nicer house elsewhere but it is what it is. So far no complaints about living here, no cridlers, tents and worries about property crime. In general the people are nice, I think most people are salty about LO because it’s expensive to live here and wish they could but can’t afford it. For an “affluent” area it’s not that exclusive TBH, ask me about the 9 years I spent living in Boston and I’ll show you some real exclusive areas where the people are shitty.

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We have lived in Lake Oswego for 5 years, we are both black (technically mixed race but brown) and have 2 sweet brown babies. We LOVE it here and would never consider moving anywhere else. Amazing schools, safe, peaceful, friendly, clean. Yes, it’s expensive - I think that’s why some people hate on it. For some, if you can’t afford to be somewhere it’s easy to hate others for being there. When we moved here, we got a lot of “you want to live there? Why? There are no minorities there” (said less eloquently), or “it’s so expensive there, and people think they’re better than you, you want to be a part of that?”. We have found that not to be true. In my daughter’s kindergarten class of 18 kiddos, there were 4 black or mixed race kids (including her), 1 Hispanic child, and 2 Asian children. I’m not blind and clearly when we walk around town or are out to eat, we usually are the only POC around but oh well. We like where we live and have never had any issues, quite the opposite. I’ve never felt anyone feels “better” than anyone else, and everyone is chatty and kind. Well, there you have it - that’s been my experience as a POC living in LO.

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Portlanders love to talk smack about anyplace that is not Portland. I think it distracts them from noticing the absolute dumpster fire that their city is.

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I moved to LO in late summer of 2020. Was sick of all the high cost, bad schools and lawlessness of Portland. My daughter has thrived in the school system there. Being a single dad I have to say I miss the walk ability and things to do in my old neighborhood in Overlook. It’s not my forever place but it has been a great decision for my daughter.

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Lake Oswego is the civilization leftists dream of but can't realize.

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I live in sw Portland and drive to LO sometimes for brunch, pedicures, and the cosmoprof.
I've never had an issue. Seems that the guilty white liberals of Portland take issue with LO because it's 80% white compared to the 73% white in Portland.

Why are these Lake Oswego offices empty?

This question is top of mind for those who see what is happening to the Kruse Way Place office buildings.  The 3 buildings have been emptied of occupants for some time now with only a few tenants left.  The halls are devoid of workers, the parking lots are empty, and the offices vacant and dark. 

What is going on?  Are many businesses closing or downsizing?  Are more people working from home?  Why hasn’t the landlord lowered the rent and advertised more to fill the empty spaces?  None of this makes any business sense.  You don’t kill your revenue stream while paying increasing expenses just to pay taxes, utilities and insurance and keep the buildings viable.  So what’s the truth about Kruse Way Place?  

  

One thing that IS going on is that the land  owner has applied for a zone change from O-C/R-3 (Office Campus / High Density Residential) to R-O (the highest density residential possible).  Their application puts forward a conceptual plan for new apartments to take the place of the existing office buildings.  These plans are suggestions only and have nothing to do with what can or will be built on the property if the R-0 zoning is achieved.  One thing that is certain is that if the city approves the request for a “Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment”, the land will instantly be worth more than it is under current zoning.  This is called Zoning Arbitrage.  Is this the goal for the zone change request?  Re-value the property for more intense use for the profit of the current land owner?  

The problem for Lake Oswegans is that once done, an R-0 zone can never be rescinded, and with no plan for what will be built on the property, it could be a disaster for the city.  Imagine 3 - 5 Windward Apartments or Mercato Grove buildings on a single property along Kruse Way with 600-1,000 units.  Then imagine what the state, Metro and the LO planning department have in mind for the rest of Lake Grove and the city!!!  

Who gains and who loses in this deal?  

Who is watching out for the interests of Lake Oswego residents?  

Who do the LO bureaucrats and politicians work for? 

Whose city is this?

BTW:  NIMBY is not a bad word - it denotes a person who cares deeply about the place they live and defends it against bad influences, actions and policies.  Mothers and fathers are like that with their children.  People who call a place home are like that with their neighborhoods and towns.  

Here are 2 articles that explain the way Zoning Arbitrage works for real estate investors. Click on the links for the full text of each piece.   

https://deepblocks.com/blog/category/zoning/zoning-arbitrage-unlocking-hidden-value-in-real-estate-investments/

Zoning Arbitrage: Unlocking Hidden Value in 

Real Estate Investments

Olivia Ramos

November 11, 2024

Understanding Zoning Arbitrage

Zoning arbitrage refers to capitalizing on differences in zoning regulations to maximize the value or profitability of real estate investments. This strategy involves identifying properties where the current zoning laws either undervalue the property's potential or are likely to change in a way that increases the property's value.

https://hold.co/blog/zoning-arbitrage

Pros and Cons of Zoning Arbitrage in 

Real Estate Investing

If you spend any time around real‑estate investors, someone will eventually drop the phrase “zoning arbitrage” with a mischievous grin—usually right after they’ve run the numbers on a deal no one else noticed. The idea is simple enough: buy property that’s currently valued under one zoning designation, then unlock a more profitable use through a rezoning request, variance, or by leveraging pre‑existing loopholes.

Done correctly, that single change can make a sleepy parcel of dirt worth multiples of its purchase price. Sounds almost too good to be true, right? Yet zoning arbitrage is perfectly legal, remarkably lucrative, and—depending on whom you ask—absolutely loathed. City councils worry about neighborhood character, residents fear traffic and gentrification, and NIMBY forums ignite faster than a flare.