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• A Health Plan for Every Oregonian: Promise or Pipe Dream

  • When
    12 Nov 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Willamette Heritage Center, Dye House, 1313 Mill St Salem Oregon, 97301

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  Is a Universal Health Plan for all Oregonians a real possibility?  Dr. McDonell will discuss the work of the Universal Health Plan Governance Board (UHPGB) and its recently released draft legislative report about the possibility, various models, cost and funding of a workable plan.  Established by the Oregon Legislature 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 statue.
  • Delivering final recommendations to the Legislature for consideration in 2027.

  
  

  Speaker

  Miriam D. McDonell

  Executive Director

  Universal Health Plan Governance Board

  
  

  Dr. Miriam "Mimi" McDonell received her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, and completed her OB/GYN residency at Oregon Health and Science University.  In addition to delivering individual medical care, Mimi served as the public health officer for Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties for 10 years, leading the Covid-19 pandemic response.  Mimi has dedicated her career to improving the lives of Oregonians and is deeply humbled to continue the work of providing access to equitable health care for all in the state.  When she is not at work, Mimi can be found running, practicing yoga, hiking or biking in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge with her spouse, or visiting her 3 children who have the nerve to go to school in three different cities.

  
  

  Event Details:

  Doors open at 11:30

  Program starts at 12:00

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