Oregon Health Forum, March 1998
http://www.healthforum.org/march.html


Republicans meet behind closed doors with lobbyists


The House Republican leadership is building its issues platform for 
the 1999 legislature. House Majority Leader Lynn Snodgrass has 
appointed eight interim caucus work groups, which have been meeting 
with lobbyists every four to six weeks. Because the groups usually 
have one legislator in attendance, they aren't subject to Oregon's 
open meeting law.

The health care caucus, headed by Rep. Leslie Lewis, is discussing 
expansion of the Oregon Health Plan, insurance mandates, senior 
health care issues and licensure/scope of practice. Lobbyists from 
some of the state's largest health care organizations -- the Oregon 
Medical Assn., Kaiser Permanente, Associated Oregon Industries, 
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and the Oregon Health Care 
Assn., among others -- have been invited to the meetings.