Background
Senate Bill 972 (2023) requires the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to transition the Marketplace from a state-based marketplace using the federal platform (SBM-FP) to a state-based marketplace (SBM) using its own technology in time for open enrollment for plan year 2027.
Specifically, OHA is required to procure and administer both an information technology platform and call center, to replace the federal platform and call center, and provide electronic access to the health insurance exchange in this state by November 1, 2026.
How this change will better serve communities harmed by inequities
- Access to data and evidence to tailor outreach and be more intentional about efforts to enroll disproportionately uninsured people, including people of color and rural residents.
- Collection of data, particularly on race and ethnicity, is widely recognized as fundamental to understanding enrollment disparities.
- Additional and more reliable data will allow Oregon to refine its outreach and communication strategies, both overall and in real time to reach targeted communities.
- Immigrants and non-native English speakers may be more likely to enroll if additional translation and interpretation services are available to help them complete the application or to communicate effectively with navigators, agents and brokers, or the call center
High-level timeline
