Yesterday, the Oregon House passed House Bills 2009 and 2116, which together represent the largest and most comprehensive health care reform bills taken up by the legislature in years.

In a nutshell, HB 2116 expands health insurance coverage to include 80,000 more Oregonian kids - by June 2011, 95% of Oregon's children will have health insurance. It also expands coverage to low income adults, and in the process, creates thousands of good paying jobs in the health care industry.

By slightly expanding taxes paid by hospitals and health insurers, HB 2116 leverages federal matching funds to bring in over $1.7 billion in new federal funds over the next four years. Most of Oregon's health care industry is on board with the bill because they know that they'll see a substantial increase in business.

HB 2009 is the health care reform and cost containment component of the package. By streamlining the health agencies of the state into a new Oregon Health Authority, HB 2009 will improve accountability for insurance providers and increase the focus on prevention and disease management. HB 2009 also takes steps towards a state Health Insurance Exchange, which would serve as a central marketplace for health insurance shopping, and would include a public health plan option.

All in all, it's an ambitious plan, but I'm confident that taken together, the two bills will increase coverage and improve health outcomes for all Oregonians, while containing health care costs in the short and long term.

I look forward to seeing this bill make its way through the Senate, and to the Governor's desk for his signature.