Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon SB1598: Relating to access to health services; and declaring an emergency.
Status: Chaptered, April 6, 2026
Digest: Updates the preventive health services that must be covered by some health benefit plans. Gives the Public Health Officer the power to make some health benefit plans provide coverage for vaccines. Gives the Public Health Officer the power to issue a standing order for a prescription. Takes effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.4). Requires certain health benefit plans to provide coverage for preventive health services in accordance with federal rules in effect on June 30, 2025, and immunizations recommended by the Public Health Officer in the future. Authorizes the Public Health Officer, or designated physician, to issue a standing order for a prescription to control, prevent, mitigate or treat any infectious or noninfectious disease or other significant public health concern. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 3, 2026:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session Senate Bill 1598 Sponsored by Senator REYNOLDS, Representative NOSSE, Senators PATTERSON, CAMPOS, FREDERICK, GELSER BLOUIN, Representatives NATHANSON, PHAM H; Senator MANNING JR, Representatives ANDERSEN, GRAYBER CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to access to health services; creating new provisions; amending ORS 743A.262; and declaring an emergency. COMMERCIAL COVERAGE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES SECTION 1. ORS 743A.262 is amended to read: 743A.262. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a health benefit plan that is not a grandfathered health plan must provide coverage of the following: [(1)] (a) [Must provide coverage of preventive health services as] Preventive health services prescribed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 300gg-13 in rules adopted and in effect on [January 1, 2023; and] June 30, 2025. [(2) May not impose cost-sharing requirements on an enrollee for preventive health services, except as allowed by federal law.] (b) Immunizations recommended by the Public Health Officer appointed under ORS 431.045 pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. (2)(a) In order to promote a legitimate medical purpose, the Public Health Officer may issue evidence-based recommendations for immunizations. (b) In issuing the recommendations, the Public Health Officer shall consider evidencebased guidance and recommendations from medical and scientific organizations. (3) A health benefit plan described under subsection (1) of this section …