(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that:
(a) Hundreds of thousands of Oregonians have no health insurance or other coverage and lack the income and resources needed to obtain health care;
(b) The number of persons without access to health services increases dramatically during periods of high unemployment;
(c) Without health coverage, persons who lack access to health services may receive treatment, but through costly, inefficient, acute care;
(d) The unpaid cost of health services for such persons is shifted to paying patients, driving up the cost of hospitalization and health insurance for all Oregonians; and
(e) The state’s medical assistance program is increasingly unable to fund the health care needs of low-income citizens.
(2) In order to provide access to health services for those in need, to contain rising health services costs through appropriate incentives to providers, payers and consumers, to reduce or eliminate cost shifting and to promote the stability of the health services delivery system and the health and well-being of all Oregonians, it is the policy of the State of Oregon to provide medical assistance to those individuals in need whose family income is below the federal poverty level and who are eligible for services under the programs authorized by this chapter. [1983 c.415 §2; 1989 c.836 §1; 1991 c.753 §1]
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