Current Listing

Let’s Talk Tillamook: Understanding the Future of the Oregon Health Plan
By Dr. Tim Borman, Semi-Retired Local Physician

Q: What is Medicaid, and how does it work in Oregon?
A: Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for
people with limited income. In Oregon, it’s called the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).
OHP serves children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and elderly adults.
Currently, the federal government pays about 76% of the cost, and Oregon pays
about 24%.

Q: How does Medicaid differ from Medicare?
A: Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older, as
well as some younger people with disabilities. Unlike OHP, Medicare has the same
rules across all states and typically requires participants to pay premiums,
deductibles, and coinsurance. Medicare generally does not cover long-term nursing
home care. That gap is filled by OHP, which pays for services for about 60% of
nursing home residents in Oregon.

Q: How many people rely on OHP in Oregon and here in Tillamook?
A: Across the state, 59% of children and 34% of adults are covered. Nearly half
of all births in Oregon are paid for through OHP. Here in Tillamook County, about
8,000–8,500 people—roughly one-third of the population—are enrolled.
Q: Who qualifies for OHP?
A: Eligibility depends on income, family size, and health status. For example, a
family of four with an annual income below about $43,000 may qualify. OHP is
designed to help people who might not otherwise afford health insurance.

Q: What changes are coming to OHP?
A: Beginning January 2027, Oregon will receive less federal Medicaid funding.
That means fewer services and fewer people eligible for OHP. Rural areas like
Tillamook are expected to feel the cuts hardest. Without insurance, people often
delay care until it becomes urgent, leading to worse outcomes and much higher
costs. For example, an urgent care visit might cost $150–$250, while an ER visit
for the same condition could be $1,500–$3,000. If small hospitals can’t keep up,
some may close.
Eric Swanson, president of Adventist Health Tillamook, notes that 35% of the
hospital’s patients rely on OHP. He warns that cuts will be “devastating to
people on Medicaid.”

Q: What about the new work requirement?
A: Also in 2027, most OHP members ages 19–64 will have to document at least 80
hours of work per month (or prove exemption) to keep coverage. While 71% of
OHP members already work, many who don’t are elderly or disabled. The online
reporting system may create barriers, especially for rural residents with limited
internet access.

Q: What can people do now?
A: If you think you may qualify for OHP, it’s best to apply before December 2026,
when enrollment will likely become more complicated. Visit the Oregon Health
Plan website or contact the Tillamook County Community Health Center for help
applying.

Dear Protesters,

It’s been a busy week here. Just wanted to touch bases and let you know the Protest for this week will be in Nehalem from noon to 2 PM. We’ve been pretty lucky with the weather, but right now I am seeing some rain for Saturday-not much, but some. Please bring your rain gear, your waterproof signs, or forget the signs and just bring yourselves. The few critics we have are hoping we shrivel up when we get wet. We want to collect your thoughts on what people might do if they can’t protest in the rain.

A few thoughts have already been presented, the first one being a letter/postcard campaign. Writing to both Republicans and Democrats to express how we feel. Another is to turn our thoughts and energy into helping those in our community who have been adversely affected by our Federal Government. Neither thought is exclusive of the other. Between our North County Food Bank, our Nehalem Bay Community Services, and the need for food for kids when they are on vacation during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. Please add your own thoughts to these and let us know what you are thinking on Saturday.

We are looking for more donations in our donation box for the North County Food Bank or cash/check donations to this organization. Again, we thank the couple from Tillamook who bring a minimum of 5 cases of food plus a large bag of dog or cat food each Saturday.

The address at the top of the page is all about being safe at our protests. Please read. We still need about 4 more people to help us with the “NO KINGS” Protest on October 18th. This protest will be in Manzanita. We must have you all at this protest with your “NO KINGS” signs. Please join us to show how we feel about not only our political parties but also the Federal Government. If you need your sign waterproofed, we are working on a solution for that.

Thanks,
Patty
.

“The January 6 attack
The storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, by a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to certify the results of the presidential election of 2020, which Trump had lost to his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, the Encyclopedia Brittanica states.
“Because its object was to prevent a legitimate president-elect from assuming office, the attack was widely regarded as an insurrection or attempted coup d’état. The FBI and other law-enforcement agencies also considered it an act of domestic terrorism. For having given a speech in which he rallied supporters to storm the Capitol in a violent attack that threatened the certification of Biden’s victory, Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House of Representatives for ‘incitement of insurrection’ (he was subsequently acquitted by the Senate).”

Full:

www.koin.com/news/portland/trump-threatens-to-use-insurrection-act-what-is-it/

I absolutely reject Drumf’s current deployment of any National Guard to Portland.

I also absolutely reject “Encyclopedia Brittanica” cozy little explanation bout J6. In the view of many, including myself, the Biden admin did in fact steal the election. And there were fed instigators like Ray Epps all over the place. Many innocent folks were given draconian sentences by Dick Cheney’s daughter, in my view.

Anyway, I think Drumf a dangerous moron, might have some stuff planned to escalate the current situation in Portland, and I would encourage protesters to do something else for a couple weeks.

And, this is my last post barring future comments about my previous posts. It’s time to fish and hunt and I got to make some money.

I would encourage more folks to contribute to this site as we need to talk about a lot of stuff as a nation right now, and we need to come together in Oregon.

FUNNY!:



Looks like woke has receded enough that we can laugh again! Some brand-new edgy political comedy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW81cIJVgLE

The most iconic photo portraying hatred that I know of, is the picture that appeared in LIFE MAGAZINE, which is no longer in publication. This was a picture of southern white citizens spitting on little black children who were integrating (for the first time ever in the south) a white school back in the 60’s…….

The little 6,7 year old children were dressed in their very best little ruffly dresses, shiny black patent shoes, each holding the hand of a white policeman. The faces of the angry white adults being held back by a rope and other policemen were screwed up, screwed up!, with hate and they were spitting on the little children as they walked past. The image of their faces has stayed in my mind forever. I can’t find this picture on the Internet. Can you imagine spitting on little children?

Did you read the novel 1984 by George Orwell – in it was a daily ritual “Two Minutes of Hate”. During this time the citizens were to participate in a hate filled session watching pictures supplied by their government of their supposed enemies, OH! – we have that today on our news channels don’t we???
YES WE DO, on our TV! Real and AI. I!!!!!!!

Do we need to practice minutes of hate of our enemies supplied to us by the media? I am going to let you answer that question for yourselves. Here is another question? What is the effect of your hatred on your own body? You can look that up too !!

Sent to BBQ 10,6,25