Patti Adair Repeatedly Voted Against A Proposal To Expand Health Insurance Coverage For County Workers To Fully Cover Abortion, Which Would Have Aligned The County With State Law

October 2021: The Deschutes County Health Care Plan For County Employees Did Not Cover Abortions Unless The Life Of The Mother Was Endangered Or If The Pregnancy Was The Result Of Rape Or Incest

October 2021: The Deschutes County Health Care Plan For County Employees Did Not Cover Abortions Unless The Life Of The Mother Was Endangered Or If The Pregnancy Was The Result Of Rape Or Incest. “The Deschutes County Commission will soon be discussing whether the county's health care plan will fully cover abortion care. Currently, the county's health care plan does not cover abortions unless the life of the mother is endangered or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, according to county documents. On Wednesday, the commission was presented with a set of new recommendations from human resources staff and the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee, whose job it is to review and evaluate employee benefits, according to Deputy County Administrator Whitney Hale.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

October 2021: The County Employee Benefits Advisory Committee Presented A Proposal To The Deschutes County Commission To Add Abortion Coverage To The County Health Plan, Aligning The County With State Policy

October 2021: The Deschutes County Employee Benefits Advisory Committee Recommended The County Commission Update County Health Plans To Fully Cover Abortion. “The Deschutes County Commission will soon be discussing whether the county's health care plan will fully cover abortion care. Currently, the county's health care plan does not cover abortions unless the life of the mother is endangered or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, according to county documents. On Wednesday, the commission was presented with a set of new recommendations from human resources staff and the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee, whose job it is to review and evaluate employee benefits, according to Deputy County Administrator Whitney Hale. One of the several recommendations made by the committee included abortion coverage. Commissioner Patti Adair paused moving forward with approving any of the health plan recommendations until this item could be discussed further. When asked why she chose to do this, Adair told The Bulletin it was because the state allows ‘full-term abortions.’” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

• The Committee Suggested Ten Updates To The Health Care Plan, Including The Abortion Provision. “One of the several recommendations made by the committee included abortion coverage. Commissioner Patti Adair paused moving forward with approving any of the health plan recommendations until this item could be discussed further. When asked why she chose to do this, Adair told The Bulletin it was because the state allows ‘full-term abortions.’ ‘Full-term abortion’ is not a medical term. […] ‘Really a full-term abortion, I think that's murder,’ Adair said Thursday. In response to Adair's concerns, the commission decided to move the discussion about health care benefits to a meeting on Monday. That's when Adair said she plans to suggest the commission go with the recommendation made by human resources staff, which recommends the county keep the current plan that includes exceptions. Of the 10 recommendations made by the advisory committee and human

resources staff about health care plan changes, the only item where the committee and human resources split opinions concerned abortion. In general in Oregon, private health-insurance plans must include abortion coverage without limitations, as a result of the state's Reproductive Health Act.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

October 2021: Deschutes County’s Plan Was Exempted From A State Law That Required Private Health Insurers To Cover Abortion Because It Excluded Abortion Services Prior To The Act’s Passing. “Of the 10 recommendations made by the advisory committee and human resources staff about health care plan changes, the only item where the committee and human resources split opinions concerned abortion. In general in Oregon, private health-insurance plans must include abortion coverage without limitations, as a result of the state's Reproductive Health Act. The county's plan differs from surrounding cities, like La Pine and Bend, which provide coverage for abortion without limitations. But the act allows for plans to be grandfathered in if the plan excluded abortion services prior to the act passing. The health plan for the county, which is self-insured, qualifies for this exception, according to county documents.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

• August 2017: Oregon’s Reproductive Health Equity Act Required All Commercial Health Plans Regulated By The State Of Oregon To Cover Abortion With No Out-Of-Pocket Costs Starting In 2019. “What is the Reproductive Health Equity Act? On Aug. 15, 2017, Governor Brown signed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (House Bill 3391) into law. The Reproductive Health Equity Act: protects and expands coverage for reproductive health services at no out-of-pocket cost for Oregonians covered by commercial health plans regulated by the State of Oregon establishes reproductive health coverage for undocumented Oregon women prohibits commercial health plans regulated by the State of Oregon from discriminating on the basis of gender identity codifies the right to abortion in the State of Oregon. […] Starting January 1, 2019, commercial health plans regulated by the State of Oregon will be required to cover abortion with no out-of-pocket costs, even if the patient has to go out of network for care.” [Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon, accessed 4/23/26]

October 2021: Adair Blocked Approval Of Any Of The Health Care Plan Recommendations Until The Abortion Item Could Be Discussed Further The Following Week, Claiming Oregon Allowed “Full-Term Abortions”

October 2021: Adair Blocked Approval Of Any Of The Health Care Plan Recommendations Until The Abortion Item Could Be Discussed Further. “The Deschutes County Commission will soon be discussing whether the county's health care plan will fully cover abortion care. Currently, the county's health care plan does not cover abortions unless the life of the mother is endangered or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, according to county documents. On Wednesday, the commission was presented with a set of new recommendations from human resources staff and the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee, whose job it is to review and evaluate employee benefits, according to Deputy County Administrator Whitney Hale. One of the several recommendations made by the committee included abortion coverage. Commissioner Patti Adair paused moving forward with approving any of the health plan recommendations until this item could be discussed further. When asked why she chose to do this, Adair told The Bulletin it was because the state allows ‘full-term abortions.’” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

Adair Said She Paused Discussion Because Oregon Allowed “Full-Term Abortions” And Said “Really A Full-Term Abortion, I Think That's Murder.” “One of the several recommendations made by the committee included abortion coverage. Commissioner Patti Adair paused moving forward with approving any of the health plan recommendations until this item could be discussed further. When asked why she chose to do this, Adair told The Bulletin it was because the state allows ‘full-term abortions.’ ‘Full-term abortion’ is not a medical term. Late-term abortion refers generally to pregnancies terminated during or after the 21st to 24th week of gestation, but many doctors avoid that language, calling it imprecise and misleading. Abortions at or after 21 weeks are uncommon, representing 1% of all abortions in the U.S., according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. ‘Really a full-term abortion, I think that's murder,’ Adair said Thursday. In response to Adair's concerns, the commission decided to move the discussion about health care benefits to a meeting on Monday. That's when Adair said she plans to suggest the commission go with the recommendation made by human resources staff, which recommends the county keep the current plan that includes exceptions.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

• The Bend Bulletin: “‘Full-Term Abortion’ Is Not A Medical Term. Late-Term Abortion Refers Generally To Pregnancies Terminated During Or After The 21st To 24th Week Of Gestation, But Many Doctors Avoid That Language, Calling It Imprecise And Misleading.” “One of the several recommendations made by the committee included abortion coverage. Commissioner Patti Adair paused moving forward with approving any of the health plan recommendations until this item could be discussed further. When asked why she chose to do this, Adair told The Bulletin it was because the state allows ‘full-term abortions.’ ‘Full-term abortion’ is not a medical term. Late-term abortion refers generally to pregnancies terminated during or after the 21st to 24th week of gestation, but many doctors avoid that language, calling it imprecise and misleading. Abortions at or after 21 weeks are uncommon, representing 1% of all abortions in the U.S., according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. ‘Really a full-term abortion, I think that's murder,’ Adair said Thursday. In response to Adair's concerns, the commission decided to move the discussion about health care benefits to a meeting on Monday. That's when Adair said she plans to suggest the commission go with the recommendation made by human resources staff, which recommends the county keep the current plan that includes exceptions.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

October 2021: Bend Bulletin: “In Response To Adair's Concerns, The Commission Decided To Move The Discussion About Health Care Benefits To A Meeting On Monday.” “One of the several recommendations made by the committee included abortion coverage. Commissioner Patti Adair paused moving forward with approving any of the health plan recommendations until this item could be discussed further. When asked why she chose to do this, Adair told The Bulletin it was because the state allows ‘full-term abortions.’ ‘Full-term abortion’ is not a medical term. […] ‘Really a full-term abortion, I think that's murder,’ Adair said Thursday. In response to Adair's concerns, the commission decided to move the discussion about health care benefits to a meeting on Monday. That's when Adair said she plans to suggest the commission go with the recommendation made by human resources staff, which recommends the county keep the current plan that includes exceptions. Of the 10 recommendations made by the advisory committee and human resources staff about health care plan changes, the only item where the committee and human resources split opinions concerned abortion.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

October 2021: Adair Was The Deciding Vote Against Expanding Health Insurance Coverage For County Workers To Fully Cover Abortion

October 2021: Adair Was The Deciding Vote Against Expanding Health Insurance Coverage For County Workers To Fully Cover Abortion. “The Deschutes County Commission decided against changing the county's health plan to fully cover abortion services. In a 2-1 vote, the commission decided to keep a policy that only covers the costs of an abortion if the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother, or if it was the result of rape or incest. Commission Chair Tony DeBone, who called the issue ‘very divisive,’ joined Commissioner Patti Adair to vote in favor of keeping the policy. Commissioner Phil Chang was the one vote against. In making its decision, the commission shot down a recommendation from the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee, which recommended the county align with state law to cover abortion without limitations.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/18/21]

• October 2021: Bend Bulletin Headline: “Deschutes County Opts Not To Fully Cover Abortion In Health Plan.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/18/21]

October 2021: Adair Said The County Should Keep Its Current Health Care Plan And Not Comprehensively Cover Abortion. “One of the several recommendations made by the committee included abortion coverage. Commissioner Patti Adair paused moving forward with approving any of the health plan recommendations until this item could be discussed further. When asked why she chose to do this, Adair told The Bulletin it was because the state allows ‘full-term abortions.’ ‘Full-term abortion’ is not a medical term. Late-term abortion refers generally to pregnancies terminated during or after the 21st to 24th week of gestation, but many doctors avoid that language, calling it imprecise and misleading. Abortions at or after 21 weeks are uncommon, representing 1% of all abortions in the U.S., according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. ‘Really a full-term abortion, I think that's murder,’ Adair said Thursday. In response to Adair's concerns, the commission decided to move the discussion about health care benefits to a meeting on Monday. That's when Adair said she plans to suggest the commission go with the recommendation made by human resources staff, which recommends the county keep the current plan that includes exceptions.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/15/21]

October 2022: Adair Voted Again To Exclude Comprehensive Abortion Coverage From The County Health Care Plan, Saying: “Sometimes You Have To Follow What You Feel Is Important” And Calling The Current Plan “Fine”

October 2022: Bend Source Headline: “County Still Not Funding Abortion: Despite The Overwhelming Support Of An Employee Advisory Committee, Deschutes County Commissioners Deny Expanding Health Plan To Fund Abortions.” [Bend Source, 10/26/22]

• The Deschutes County Employee Benefit Advisory Committee Approved The Proposal By A 14-1 Vote Prior To Presenting It To The County Commission. “Deschutes County Commissioners Tony DeBone and Patti Adair removed a proposed health benefit that would’ve changed the county’s health plan to cover abortion services at the board’s regular meeting on Oct. 19. It was one of seven changes proposed by Deschutes County’s Employee Benefit Advisory Committee, which approved the proposals with a 14-1 vote. The county’s health plan currently only pays for abortions if the pregnancy is the product of rape or incest or if the mother’s life is in danger. Commissioner Phil Chang was the sole vote to include abortion services in the county health plan. ‘We are hearing from employees that they would like to have this benefit, (the Employee Benefit Advisory Council) voted 14-1 to support this change and the cost is very small. Benchmarking, comparing to other plans, indicates we are out of step with most other employers on these issues,’ Chang said. Adding abortion services to the health plan would cost the county an estimated $8,000 to $12,000 a year total. Chang added that he didn’t think funding abortions for county employees would change the number of employees seeking abortion.” [Bend Source, 10/26/22]

October 2022: Bend Bulletin: Adair Was The Deciding Vote Against Expanding Health Insurance Coverage For County Workers To Fully Cover Abortion. “Abortion, climate change and housing were among key wedge issues in the race for Deschutes County Commission at a debate Thursday night, where incumbent commissioners Patti Adair and Tony DeBone defended their records in the face of opposition from challengers Morgan Schmidt and Oliver Tatom. The candidates have appeared in debates together multiple times this election season, often discussing the same topics. Thursday's debate, hosted by the League of Women Voters and the City Club of Central Oregon, brought up three key issues that highlight the stakes of the race. On Wednesday, in a 2-1 vote, the commission voted to exclude abortions in the county health care plan, except for those caused by rape or incest or that threaten the life of the mother. Adair and DeBone voted in favor of the exclusion, while Commissioner Phil Chang voted against it. At the debate Thursday, Adair and DeBone said they were pleased with the current health plan they provide employees.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/22/22]

Adair: “Sometimes You Have To Follow What You Feel Is Important And I Feel That Our Grandfathered Plan Is Fine.” “I would agree with the values, and the fact that our plan is in compliance per legal, and it has been grandfathered in. I would continue it as it’s been grandfathered,’ Adair said. ‘Sometimes you have to follow what you feel is important and I feel that our grandfathered plan is fine.’ Adair added that abortions that can be covered in certain circumstances, that birth control is covered by insurers under the Affordable Care Act and that county employees are largely satisfied with the health plan. The issue has been divisive and is a point of attack among both Adair and DeBeone’s challengers in the upcoming election.” [Bend Source, 10/26/22]

2023: Adair Was Eventually “Forced To Approve” Comprehensive Abortion Coverage For County Employees Following The Passage Of A New State Law

Bend Bulletin Headline: “Employees To Have Abortion Care Covered Through Insurance; New State Law Forced Adair, Debone To OK Coverage. They Previously Voted Against It.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/19/23]

2023: Bend Bulletin: “Starting Next Year, Deschutes County Employees Will Have Comprehensive Coverage For Abortion Services In Their Health Plan For The First Time After County Commissioners Were Forced To Approve The Coverage By A Law Approved In The Recent Legislative Session.” “Starting next year, Deschutes County employees will have comprehensive coverage for abortion services in their health plan for the first time after county commissioners were forced to approve the coverage by a law approved in the recent legislative session. Two of three county commissioners had repeatedly voted to exclude abortion coverage from the employee health plan except in cases that threaten the life of the mother or are a product of rape or incest. Wednesday, that all changed. House Bill 2002, a health care bill that passed this spring, mandates that health benefit plans within Oregon must provide a number of health services, including abortion. That led to unanimous approval Wednesday from county commissioners for abortion coverage for employees.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/19/23]

• 2023: The Oregon State House Passed A Bill That Required Health Benefit Plans Within Oregon To Provide Coverage For Abortion. “Starting next year, Deschutes County employees will have comprehensive coverage for abortion services in their health plan for the first time after county commissioners were forced to approve the coverage by a law approved in the recent legislative session. Two of three county commissioners had repeatedly voted to exclude abortion coverage from the employee health plan except in cases that threaten the life of the mother or are a product of rape or incest. Wednesday, that all changed. House Bill 2002, a health care bill that passed this spring, mandates that health benefit plans within Oregon must provide a number of health services, including abortion. That led to unanimous approval Wednesday from county commissioners for abortion coverage for employees.” [Bend Bulletin, 10/19/23]