Oregon Health Forum http://www.healthforum.org/aug99.html State shoots down Umatilla vote Umatilla County's controversial patient's rights ordinance, designed as a blow to managed care, took a legal punch from the attorney general. On June 23, AG Hardy Myers, along with Insurance Commissioner Michael Greenfield, announced the state would attempt to invalidate the law because it prohibits insurers from restricting a patient's choice of physician. Umatilla County won't fight back, said Emile Holeman, who chairs the county commission. "We've been put in a box by the Justice Department and won't mount a raging defense," he said. "It troubles me why the constitutionality issue isn't up front before the people vote." Umatilla passed the patient's rights ordinance by a landslide -- 7,284 to 2,582 with 31% of registered voters casting ballots. AG's spokesman Peter Cogswell said the ordinance goes against state policy. "The insurance statutes have a certain purpose -- to provide health care for as many Oregonians as possible." "We had hoped the large majority in favor of this initiative would send a message," said Mike Megehee, the Pendleton chiropractor who drafted the initiative. "But this is one of those instances where the desires of the state are not compatible with those of the general public." Megehee is preparing a state wide initiative for the November 2000 ballot.