4 May 2007 Update on Oregon’s SB 363 & 364

From: 

Senator Bill Morrisette – D-District 6
S-309, State Capitol
Salem, OR  97301
(503) 986-1706

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release, 5/4/07

Two more Morrisette bills pass Oregon Senate

A bill to give people who receive state mental health services more say in the design and delivery of such services, and a bill to make it easier for nurse practitioners to treat people under the Oregon Health Plan both passed the Senate on Friday.

Both bills were sponsored by Senator Bill Morrisette, D-Springfield.

Morrisette introduced SB 364 at the request of R. Drake Ewbank, operations coordinator of SAFE, Inc./Valia Health Resources, a Springfield-based mental health peer/self-help organization.  The bill would put into state law a policy that mental health ”consumers” have a right to take part in developing and carrying out programs affecting them.

So a formal Consumer Advisory Council of 15-25 members would be created in statute – a council already exists on an informal basis – to advise the director of the Department of Human Services.  And at least 20 percent of the members of any public task force, commission, advisory group or committee relating to mental health or addiction issues would have to be consumers.

A companion bill – also requested by Ewbank and sponsored by Morrisette – to create a mental health ombudsman, has cleared the Senate Health Policy Committee, but is now in the Joint Ways & Means Committee where it faces an uncertain fate because of the cost of creating such an office.

The other Morrisette bill passed by the full Senate Friday, SB 756, would require managed care plans that treat Oregon Health Plan patients to include nurse practicioners on their treatment panels. Both bills now go to the Oregon House for action there.

For additional information, contact Senator Morrisette’s Legislative Assistant, Don Bishoff, 503-986-1108 (541-343-0892 over the weekend), dbishoff@state.or.us