State may widen tax to expand health coverage

Next year, the Oregon Legislature may consider expanding a medical provider tax to pay for health insurance for children and 100,000 low-income adults.

The idea is coming from a committee the Legislature named. A draft of its plan is expected this week. Public hearings are planned after that.

In all, the plan would provide insurance for about a third of the state’s uninsured, who now number about 621,000.

It would add insurers and outpatient surgical centers to a tax that now applies to hospitals and Medicaid managed care providers.

Last year, voters rejected a tobacco tax whose proceeds would have paid for health insurance for 117,000 children who lack it.