Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co. ( 2017 )

62 February 16, 2017 No. 9
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
STATE OF OREGON
Stephanie M. DOWELL,
individually and
on behalf of others similarly situated,
Petitioner on Review,
v.
OREGON MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY,
an Oregon corporation,
Respondent on Review.
(CC 1205-06486; CA A153170; SC S063079)
En Banc
On review from the Court of Appeals.*
Argued and submitted March 8, 2016.
Charles Robinowitz, Law Offices of Charles Robinowitz,
Portland, argued the cause and filed the briefs for petitioner
on review. Also on the briefs was Genavee Stokes-Avery.
Thomas M. Christ, Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP, Portland,
argued the cause and filed the briefs for respondent on
review.
Hadley Van Vactor, Portland, filed the brief for amicus
curiae Oregon Trial Lawyers Association.
NAKAMOTO, J.
The decision of the Court of Appeals and the judgment of
the circuit court are affirmed.
Walters, J., dissented and filed an opinion, in which
Baldwin, J., and Brewer, J., joined.
______________
* Appeal from Multnomah County Circuit Court, Henry C. Breithaupt,
Judge pro tempore. 268 Or App 672, 343 P3d 283 (2015).
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 63
Case Summary: In 2008, plaintiff was injured in a motor vehicle accident.
Among the costs she incurred as a result were $430.67 in transportation expenses
accrued in the course of traveling to various medical appointments and picking
up medications. Plaintiff applied for PIP medical benefits under her Oregon auto-
mobile insurance policy, and defendant insurance company paid for the medi-
cal care she had received from her healthcare providers. Defendant, however,
declined to pay for the transportation costs associated with obtaining that care.
Plaintiff subsequently filed an action against defendant, arguing that medical
expenses under ORS 742.524(1)(a) included, as a statutory matter, transporta-
tion costs and that as a result, defendant had breached its contract with her by
failing to reimburse her for those expenses. On defendant’s motion for summary
judgment, however, the trial court dismissed plaintiff’s action and the Court of
Appeals went on to affirm that judgment in a written decision. In scrutinizing
the statutory phrase “expenses of medical * * * services” as it was used in ORS
742.524(1), the Court of Appeals examined the text and context of the statute,
opining that the phrase meant “something that is expended to secure a benefit
relating to work that is performed by another, when that work involves the prac-
tice of medicine[.]” After thus narrowing the meaning of that phrase, the Court
of Appeals concluded that it could not be read to include transportation expenses
related obtaining medical services. Held: The decision of the Court of Appeals
and the judgment of the circuit court are affirmed. After examining the text,
context, and legislative history of ORS 742.524(1) the Court concludes that the
legislature intended the phrase “expenses of medical * * * services” to encompass
costs that originate with, or arise by virtue of, the rendering of medical treatment
or the work performed by a physician. Such costs would include the medications,
medical supplies, and equipment prescribed by a physician for treatment of the
injured person. The legislature did not intend, however, for ordinary transporta-
tion expenses incurred in the course of obtaining medical treatment or medica-
tions to qualify as a covered PIP benefit.
The decision of the Court of Appeals and the judgment of the circuit court
are affirmed.
64 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
NAKAMOTO, J.
Auto insurers in Oregon must provide personal
injury protection (PIP) benefits to their insureds for certain
automotive injury-related expenses, regardless of who is at
fault in an accident. ORS 742.520(1). The PIP medical bene-
fits at issue in this case “consist of the following payments for
the injury or death of each person” covered: “All reasonable
and necessary expenses of medical, hospital, dental, surgi-
cal, ambulance and prosthetic services incurred within one
year after the date of the person’s injury, but not more than
$15,000 in the aggregate for all such expenses of the person.”
ORS 742.524(1)(a) (2007).1 On behalf of herself and others
similarly situated, plaintiff contended in her action against
defendant Oregon Mutual Insurance Company that insurers
must pay transportation costs incurred to obtain medical
care as part of PIP medical benefits. The trial court con-
cluded that the PIP statutes, ORS 742.518 to 742.542, do not
require insurers to pay for transportation costs and granted
summary judgment for defendant. Plaintiff appealed, and
the Court of Appeals affirmed. Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins.
Co., 268 Or App 672, 343 P3d 283 (2015).
The question on review is whether the PIP medical
benefit in ORS 742.524(1)(a) includes the insured plaintiff’s
transportation costs to receive medical care. We hold that
PIP benefits for the “expenses of medical * * * services” do
not include an insured’s transportation costs for traveling to
receive medical care. Therefore, we affirm the decision of the
Court of Appeals and the judgment of the trial court.
I. BACKGROUND
The relevant facts are not in dispute. Plaintiff
had an Oregon auto insurance policy issued by defendant.
In 2008, plaintiff was injured in a motor vehicle accident.
1
In 2009, the legislature amended ORS 742.524(1)(a), but those amend-
ments apply only to policies issued or renewed after the January 1, 2010, effec-
tive date. Or Laws 2009, ch 66, §§ 1, 3. The legislature again amended the stat-
ute in 2015, but those amendments apply only to policies issued or renewed after
the January 1, 2016, effective date. Or Laws 2015, ch 5, §§ 4, 7. Because this
case involves a pre-2010 policy, those 2009 and 2015 amendments do not apply.
For that reason, all the citations in this opinion are to the 2007 version of the
relevant statutes, except where otherwise noted.
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 65
Among other expenses, plaintiff incurred $430.67 in trans-
portation costs to attend medical appointments and to obtain
medication. She then applied for PIP medical benefits under
her insurance policy. Defendant paid for plaintiff’s medical
care, but it declined to pay for her transportation expenses
to obtain her medical care.
Plaintiff then filed a complaint for breach of con-
tract, both for herself and on behalf of others similarly situ-
ated. She alleged that her claim for medical expenses under
ORS 742.524(1)(a) included her transportation costs and
that defendant had breached its contract by failing to reim-
burse her for those expenses. Defendant responded by mov-
ing for summary judgment, arguing that ORS 742.524(1)(a)
did not require it to pay for transportation costs. After a
hearing, the trial court granted defendant’s motion and
entered a judgment in defendant’s favor.
On appeal, the Court of Appeals narrowed the case
to a single question: Does the phrase “expenses of medical
* * * services” in ORS 742.524(1)(a) require an insurer to pay
an insured’s expenses for transportation to attend medical
appointments and to obtain medication? Dowell, 268 Or App
at 675.2 The Court of Appeals answered that question by
considering the statute’s text and context.3 After examin-
ing dictionary definitions of the four words in the phrase
“expenses of medical * * * services,” the Court of Appeals
concluded that, considered as a whole, the phrase meant
“something that is expended to secure a benefit relating to
work that is performed by another, when that work involves
the practice of medicine (the maintenance of health, and the
prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease).” Id. at 677. After
considering the phrase’s context, particularly the remain-
ing text of the statute and other PIP provisions pertaining
to payments to “providers” of medical services, the Court of
2
In their briefs before the Court of Appeals, the parties referred to the actual
auto policy underlying this matter, which they described as essentially mirroring
the text of ORS 742.524(1)(a). That policy, however, is not part of the appellate
record, and the resolution of this case does not depend on it. Because the wording
of the policy and the statute are the same, this case focuses on the proper inter-
pretation of ORS 742.524(1)(a), not the wording of a policy that might arguably
provide a PIP benefit more generous than the one that is statutorily required.
3
Neither party presented any legislative history to the court.
66 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
Appeals concluded that the legislature had not intended the
statute to include expenses of transportation to obtain med-
ical services. 268 Or App at 677-78.
We allowed plaintiff’s petition for review to address
the interpretation of ORS 742.524(1)(a). On review, plaintiff
contends that two statutes, ORS 731.008 and ORS 731.016,
serve as the starting point for construing the phrase
“expenses of medical * * * services.” According to plaintiff,
the legislature’s declarations in those two statutes require
us to liberally construe ORS 742.524(1)(a), and, read in
that light, the phrase at issue should be understood as a
reference to “the costs to obtain medical services,” including
the costs for transportation to a doctor’s office or hospital to
obtain medical advice and treatment. Consequently, plain-
tiff asserts that transportation costs to obtain medical ser-
vices qualify as PIP benefits.
Second, plaintiff argues that the Court of Appeals
decision conflicts with the purpose and policy of the PIP stat-
utes, which is to reduce litigation and to ensure prompt pay-
ment of claims. Because health care is not available without
traveling to a doctor or hospital, plaintiff argues, those travel
costs are especially burdensome to rural residents who may
have to travel a significant distance. Plaintiff also asserts
that the reasoning of the Court of Appeals will encourage
insurance companies to deny injured persons payment for
medication, medical supplies, and medical equipment.
Finally, plaintiff contends that sources of law out-
side the PIP statutes are persuasive authority in favor of her
interpretation of the statute. She relies on decisions from
courts in other jurisdictions that have held that the PIP
benefits in those jurisdictions include the reasonable cost of
travel to a health care provider.
Defendant responds that the text and context of the
statute limit payment to the cost of services expressly listed
in ORS 742.524(1)(a) that are performed by a “provider,”
that is, a licensed healthcare provider. Noting that the stat-
ute refers only to ambulance services and not to other trans-
portation, and that it contains a presumption concerning
payments for healthcare providers, defendant argues that
PIP benefits are not meant to cover “providers of non-health
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 67
care services,” such as a taxicab or bus service, or services
that insureds perform for themselves, such as driving to the
doctor’s office. (Emphasis in original.) Defendant also con-
tends that the out-of-state authorities cited by plaintiff are
not helpful because of differences in the relevant statutes
and case law.
Our measure of legislative intent takes into account
the legislative history of the PIP benefit statute, in addition
to its text and context. As explained below, we ultimately con-
clude that the Oregon Legislative Assembly did not intend
to include the expenses of transportation to obtain medical
services as a PIP medical benefit in ORS 742.524(1)(a), but
we arrive at that conclusion after rejecting both parties’
rationales for their divergent readings of ORS 742.524(1)(a).
II. ANALYSIS
The issue presented involves statutory construction,
which we resolve by applying familiar principles set out in
PGE v. Bureau of Labor and Industries, 317 Or 606, 610-12,
859 P2d 1143 (1993), and State v. Gaines, 346 Or 160, 171-
72, 206 P3d 1042 (2009). To discern the meaning of the stat-
ute most likely intended by the legislature that enacted it,
we examine the text and context of the statute and, where
appropriate, legislative history and pertinent canons of con-
struction. State v. Walker, 356 Or 4, 13, 333 P3d 316 (2014);
Gaines, 346 Or at 171-72.
A.  Oregon’s PIP Statutory Scheme
To aid our discussion, we begin with a brief over-
view of the PIP statutory scheme. PIP is a form of no-fault
insurance mandated by Oregon law to be included in any
motor vehicle liability policy. ORS 742.520(1). PIP coverage
is governed by ORS 742.518 to 742.544. PIP benefits “consist
of payments for expenses, loss of income and loss of essential
services as provided in ORS 742.524.” ORS 742.520(3).
An insurer must pay PIP benefits “promptly after
proof of loss has been submitted to the insurer.” ORS
742.520(4). We have explained that “the obvious purpose
of [the PIP statutes] is to provide, promptly and without
regard to fault, reimbursement for some out-of-pocket losses
resulting from motor vehicle accidents.” Perez v. State Farm
68 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
Mutual Ins. Co., 289 Or 295, 300, 613 P2d 32 (1980) (empha-
sis added). Indeed, since their creation, in general, PIP ben-
efits have consisted of payments for “medical expenses and
loss of income.” Kessler v. Weigandt, 299 Or 38, 40 n 3, 699
P2d 183 (1985) (discussing the predecessors of ORS 742.520
and ORS 742.524, namely, former ORS 743.800, renumbered
as ORS 742.520 (1989), and former ORS 743.805, renum-
bered as ORS 742.524 (1989)).
This case involves the PIP medical benefit in ORS
742.524(1)(a), which requires payment for
“[a]ll reasonable and necessary expenses of medical, hos-
pital, dental, surgical, ambulance and prosthetic services
incurred within one year after the date of the person’s
injury, but not more than $15,000 in the aggregate for all
such expenses of the person.”
That statute also contains a presumption that expenses of
medical and other listed services claimed by a “provider” on
behalf of an insured are reasonable and necessary, unless
the insurer timely denies the claim:
“Expenses of medical * * * services shall be presumed to
be reasonable and necessary unless the provider is given
notice of denial of the charges not more than 60 calendar
days after the insurer receives from the provider notice of
the claim for the services.”
Id.The term “provider” is statutorily defined. ORS
742.518(10) (stating that “provider” has the meaning given
to that term in ORS 743.801). As used in the presumption
described in ORS 742.524(1)(a), a “provider” is “a person
licensed, certified or otherwise authorized or permitted by
laws of this state to administer medical or mental health
services in the ordinary course of business or practice of a
profession.” ORS 743.801(13). A number of other provisions
in the PIP statutes refer to payments to providers. See, e.g.,
ORS 742.525, ORS 742.528.
An insurer may deny a PIP claim for medical
expenses; however, the “potential existence of a cause of
action in tort does not relieve an insurer from the duty to
pay [PIP] benefits.” ORS 742.520(5). Disputes over PIP
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 69
payments may be adjudicated in either of two forums. If the
parties mutually agree, they can use binding arbitration.
ORS 742.520(6).4 Or, like plaintiff, an insured who contends
that the insurer wrongly denied PIP benefits may choose to
file a civil action against the insurer.
B.  Text and Context of ORS 742.524(1)(a)
With that overview, we turn to construe ORS
742.524(1)(a). We begin with the text of the statute. Sanders
v. Oregon Pacific States Ins. Co., 314 Or 521, 527, 840 P2d
87 (1992). The phrase directly at issue contains four terms:
“expenses,” “of,” “medical,” and “services.” In construing
those terms, we pay careful attention to “the exact wording
of the statute.” State v. Vasquez-Rubio, 323 Or 275, 280, 917
P2d 494 (1996). That is because the text provides the best
evidence of the legislature’s intent and the starting point
for our analysis. PGE, 317 Or at 611; see also Whipple v.
Howser, 291 Or 475, 480, 632 P2d 782 (1981) (stating that
there is “no more persuasive evidence of the purpose of a
statute than the words by which the legislature undertook
to give expression to its wishes”).
None of the statutory terms set out above are
defined by statute, nor are they legal terms of art. Therefore,
our task is to determine the intended meaning of those
words, applying the ordinary tools of statutory construction.
When the legislature has not defined a word or a phrase,
we assume, at least initially, that the word or phrase has
its “plain, natural, and ordinary” meaning. PGE, 317 Or at
611; accord Wright v. Turner, 354 Or 815, 827, 322 P3d 476
(2014). This court frequently consults dictionary definitions
in such cases on the assumption that, if the legislature did
not provide a specialized definition for a term, the dictionary
will help to shed light on its meaning as intended by the
legislature. State v. Murray, 340 Or 599, 604, 136 P3d 10
(2006).
4
ORS 742.520(6) provides, in part:
“Disputes between insurers and beneficiaries about the amount of per-
sonal injury protection benefits, or about the denial of personal injury protec-
tion benefits, shall be decided by arbitration if mutually agreed to at the time
of the dispute.”
70 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
The dictionary definition of “expense” is straight-
forward. “Expense” means “2 a : something that is expended
in order to secure a benefit or bring about a result” or “b : the
financial burden involved typically in a course of action or
manner of living : cost.” Webster’s Third Int’l Dictionary 800
(unabridged ed 2002) (boldface in original). Thus, in ordi-
nary usage, the word “expenses” means something that is
expended, a cost, to secure a benefit or bring about a result.
In part, Webster’s defines “of” to mean “5 b : from as
the place of birth, production, or distribution : having as its
base of operation, point of initiation, or source of issuance or
derivation.” Id. at 1565. That definition appears to suggest
a derivation that is not necessarily geographical, but, if the
dissent is correct that the definition has only a “locational
meaning.” Dowell, 361 Or at 92 (Walters, J., dissenting),
other definitions point in a similar direction. For example,
“of” is also defined as being “6—used as a function word to
indicate the cause, motive, or reason by which a person or
thing is actuated or impelled” or “15—used as a function
word to indicate a quality or possession characterizing or
distinguishing a subject.” Id. More broadly, though, “of” is
defined as “11 : relating to : with reference to : as regards
: ABOUT.” Id. Although there are many other definitions,
none comes as close as the foregoing to address the problem
before us.
The word “medical” has two possible definitions
in this context. “Medical” means “1 : of, relating to, or con-
cerned with physicians or with the practice of medicine often
as distinguished from surgery” or “2 : requiring or devoted
to medical treatment * * *—distinguished from surgical.”
Webster’s at 1402 (emphasis in original).
Finally, the noun “service” also is defined in many
ways. But in this case, the applicable definitions of “service”
are either “2 : the performance of work commanded or paid
for by another” or “9 a : action or use that furthers some
end or purpose : conduct or performance that assists or ben-
efits someone or something : deeds useful or instrumental
toward some object.” Webster’s at 2075.
In light of those definitions, the phrase “expenses of
medical * * * services” can, as a textual matter, plausibly be
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 71
read in different ways. Each of the parties offers a different
understanding of the phrase, but we conclude that there is a
third plausible reading.
In the strictest reading, which defendant urges, the
PIP expenses authorized for “medical * * * services” are the
costs for the professional work performed by a physician or
other person who renders medical care. Plaintiff objects that
defendant and the Court of Appeals have focused too nar-
rowly on “services,” which omits from PIP benefits a variety
of nonservice medical costs that are necessary adjuncts of
medical treatment, including medications and other medical
supplies and equipment, such as bandages and crutches.
By relying on the broader meaning of the word
“of,” plaintiff offers the most expansive view of the phrase
“expenses of medical * * * services.” In plaintiff’s view, that
phrase refers to a cost that is related in some way to work
that involves medical care or the practice of medicine. In
accordance with that view, plaintiff contends that transpor-
tation to receive medical care is “related” to the benefit of
work performed by a healthcare provider because, as a prac-
tical matter, transportation usually is needed for the injured
person to obtain medical treatment. Defendant disagrees,
arguing that transportation costs—other than ambulance
services—are not “related” to medical care and instead are
ancillary.
In our view, however, there is a third reading of the
phrase that neither party proffers. In it, the dictionary defi-
nitions point to costs that have as their source or derivation
an action or use that is devoted or instrumental to medical
treatment. In other words, “expenses of medical * * * ser-
vices,” ORS 742.524(1)(a), can refer to costs that originate
with the rendered medical treatment or the physician’s per-
formance of work. That meaning of the phrase is consistent
with PIP benefit coverage for items such as medications or
crutches that injured individuals use as part of their medi-
cal treatment.
In light of those alternatives, the text alone does
not provide a definitive answer regarding what the legisla-
ture intended in ORS 742.524(1)(a). But of course, we do not
interpret a statutory phrase solely on the basis of dictionary
72 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
definitions. State v. Cloutier, 351 Or 68, 96, 261 P3d 1234
(2011). Statutory construction in Oregon requires an exam-
ination of word usage in context to determine what the leg-
islature most likely intended. See, e.g., State v. Fries, 344
Or 541, 546-50, 185 P3d 453 (2008) (considering context to
determine which of multiple definitions was intended by the
legislature).
We begin with plaintiff’s contextual argument. She
argues that we are required by general provisions in the
Insurance Code to liberally interpret insurance law in favor
of insureds. Plaintiff relies on ORS 731.016, which provides:
“The Insurance Code shall be liberally construed and
shall be administered and enforced by the Director of the
Department of Consumer and Business Services to give
effect to the policy stated in ORS 731.008.”
The policy referred to in ORS 731.016 states that “the
Insurance Code is for the protection of the insurance-buying
public.” ORS 731.008. Plaintiff and amicus curiae Oregon
Trial Lawyers Association further contend that, under
Carrigan v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co., 326 Or 97,
104-05, 949 P2d 705 (1997), the declaration in ORS 731.016
is a command to courts construing the Insurance Code.
We agree that both ORS 731.008 and ORS 731.016
are statutes that are related to, and function as, context
for ORS 742.524(1)(a), which is part of the Insurance Code.
Nevertheless, we reject plaintiff’s argument that those stat-
utes, coupled with our decision in Carrigan, require us to
liberally construe the PIP statute at issue in her favor.
In large part, plaintiff’s argument depends on over-
reading Carrigan, which was decided at a time when Oregon
courts followed a strict analytical framework for statutory
interpretation that proceeded in stages, as prescribed by
PGE, 317 Or 606. The court in Carrigan summarized that
framework:
“In construing a statute, this court’s task is to discern
the intent of the legislature. PGE v. Bureau of Labor and
Industries, 317 Or 606, 610, 859 P2d 1143 (1993). To dis-
cern legislative intent, this court first looks to the text and
context of the statute. Id. at 610-11, 859 P2d 1143. If the
intent of the legislature is clear from text and context, we
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 73
proceed no further. Id. at 611, 859 P2d 1143. If the text and
context do not make the legislature’s intent clear, we then
inquire into legislative history. Id. at 611-12, 859 P2d 1143.
Finally, if the legislative history, coupled with text and con-
text, still provides no clear answer, we then turn to legal
maxims. Id. at 612, 859 P2d 1143.
326 Or at 101. In Carrigan, we adopted a liberal construc-
tion of ORS 742.520(2)(a) (1997)—but only at the last stage
of that analytical framework set out above: the application of
“maxims of statutory construction.” 326 Or at 104. Because
the text and context of the PIP statute at issue in Carrigan,
together with its legislative history, were not dispositive, we
resorted to a maxim of statutory construction suggested by
the statutory interpretive directive in ORS 731.016: a rule of
“liberal construction” to further the protection of the insur-
ance-buying public in insurance cases. Carrigan, 326 Or at
104-05; see also Pierce v. Allstate Ins. Co., 316 Or 31, 38-39,
848 P2d 1197 (1993) (acknowledging a rule of “liberal con-
struction” as a general maxim of statutory construction in
insurance cases). Carrigan, therefore, does not control our
analysis of the context of ORS 742.524(1)(a), and in this
case, we need not employ a “liberal construction” rule as a
maxim of statutory construction.5
In this case, the context of the disputed phrase
undercuts plaintiff’s proffered reading of ORS 742.524(1)(a).
The first problem with plaintiff’s reading of the phrase is
the fact that ORS 742.524(1)(a) specifically mentions one
kind of transportation service for which insurers must make
payment: “ambulance” services. “Ambulance” is not defined
in the PIP or insurance statutes. However, ambulance ser-
vices are regulated in Oregon, as described in ORS chapter
682. In that chapter, the legislature defines an “ambulance”
5
Countering plaintiff’s proposed rule of liberal construction, defendant
argues that, by its terms, the statute on which it is based, ORS 731.016, appears
to instruct the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services,
not the courts, to liberally construe the Insurance Code when promulgating
agency rules and to administer and enforce that code to protect of the insurance-
buying public. Defendant further argues that application of the PIP statutes in
favor of injured insureds like plaintiff does not necessarily advance the legisla-
ture’s stated policy of protecting the insurance-buying public, which includes all
Oregon drivers who are required to purchase auto insurance. We need not delve
into the origin, validity, and effect of the “liberal construction” maxim of statu-
tory construction, because we need not apply it in this case.
74 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
as a vehicle “that is regularly provided for the emergency
transportation of persons who are ill or injured or who have
disabilities.” ORS 682.025(1). Accordingly, the legislature
expressly required PIP benefits to include payment for the
cost of specialized medical transportation, along the lines
of the other listed medical and dental care described in the
PIP benefit in ORS 742.524(1)(a). Subsection (1)(a) of the
PIP benefits statute, however, does not include payment
more broadly for “transportation” services, when the legisla-
ture could have easily done so by including ordinary trans-
portation as a covered expense.
Other than her more general argument that courts
should read the PIP statutes in an insured’s favor, plaintiff
does not have a response to the specific inclusion of ambu-
lance services and the absence of general transportation
services in the list of statutorily mandated medical benefits
in ORS 742.524(1)(a). In light of that context, we are not per-
suaded by the argument that ORS 731.008 and ORS 731.016
change the contextual analysis of the statute by favoring
injured parties covered by an auto policy, whether or not
ORS 731.008 and ORS 731.016 form legislative instructions
for courts—as opposed to the Director of the Department of
Consumer and Business Services—as the courts construe
provisions in the Insurance Code.
Looking at the statute as a whole, we see yet another
problem for the broad reading advanced by plaintiff, given
ORS 742.524(1)(e). That statute provides that child care is
to be paid as a PIP benefit in limited circumstances, when
persons with injuries serious enough to require a 24-hour
hospital admission are unable to work:
“If the injured person is a parent of a minor child and
is required to be hospitalized for a minimum of 24 hours,
$25 per day for child care, with payments to begin after
the initial 24 hours of hospitalization and to be made for as
long as the person is unable to return to work if the person
is engaged in a remunerative occupation or for as long as
the person is unable to perform essential services that the
person would have performed without income if the person
is not usually engaged in a remunerative occupation, but
not to exceed $750.”
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 75
If plaintiff’s broad reading of the phrase “expenses
of medical * * * services” is correct, then all expenses that
an injured person incurs to actually obtain medical care—
whether transportation costs or, for example, child care costs
for trips to the doctor and physical therapy—are mandated
PIP benefits. Subsection (1)(e) of ORS 742.524, however,
does not state that the child care PIP benefits described
above are different from or to be paid in addition to any
other actual child care expenses incurred to receive medical
services. Thus, ORS 742.524(1)(e) casts additional doubt on
plaintiff’s proposed construction of ORS 742.524(1)(a).6
At the same time, we remain unconvinced that con-
text supports defendant’s opposing view of the statute. As
mentioned, the statute contains a presumption providing
that “[e]xpenses of medical * * * services are presumed to be
reasonable and necessary unless the provider receives notice
of denial of the charges not more than 60 calendar days after
the insurer receives from the provider notice of the claim for
the services.” ORS 742.524(1)(a) (emphasis added). And, in
Ivanov v. Farmers Ins. Co., 344 Or 421, 429, 185 P3d 417
(2008), we recognized that the “reasonable and necessary”
presumption applies when “a healthcare provider submits a
PIP claim for medical expenses on behalf of an insured.”
(Emphasis added.) No parallel presumption exists for non-
healthcare providers in ORS 742.524(1)(a). As a result,
defendant draws the conclusion that the “reasonable and
necessary” presumption is designed to cover what it views
to be the universe of PIP medical benefit claims, namely,
claims for professional services by healthcare providers.
Defendant further argues that other PIP statutes that refer
to “providers” supply evidence for that conclusion as well,
citing ORS 742.525(1)(b). That statute states that a health-
care provider cannot charge more than the amount in “fee
6
The dissent supports plaintiff’s argument, suggesting that, by using the
word “all” in the phrase “all reasonable and necessary” costs of the listed med-
ical services, the legislature meant to include all expenses in some way related
to obtaining medical care, including transportation. Dowell, 361 Or at 87-88
(Walters, J., dissenting). The word “all,” however, modifies “reasonable and nec-
essary”; therefore, the statute requires that, for any covered medical care that
qualifies as a covered PIP benefit, an insurer must pay the expense or cost of the
care if it was reasonable and necessary. The term does not clarify whether the
legislature meant to include transportation as a medical benefit.
76 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
schedules for medical services” published by the Director of
the Department of Consumer and Business Services pursu-
ant to ORS 656.248.7
We conclude, however, that the presumption and
the procedures for claims by healthcare providers manifest
the legislature’s decision to address the claims process for
healthcare providers in the PIP statutes and not a limitation
on the scope of PIP medical benefits. It is apparent from the
PIP statutory scheme that the legislature has not enacted
presumptions or detailed procedures designed to manage
how insurers calculate amounts that they must pay for all
mandated PIP benefits and resulting disputes regarding
those amounts. For example, PIP benefits include loss of
income for those usually engaged in a remunerative occu-
pation, ORS 742.542(1)(b), and loss of essential services for
those who are not usually engaged in a remunerative occu-
pation, ORS 742.542(1)(c). Yet those provisions of the bene-
fits statute do not include any presumptions that might limit
a variety of conceivable disputes that could occur between
the injured person and the insurer regarding amounts that
must be paid for losses. Thus, although the presumption for
payments to healthcare providers was designed to reduce
disputes over medical bills,8 there simply is no similar
7
Several other PIP statutes also address procedures relating to payments
to healthcare providers. Under ORS 742.528(1), the procedure for denying pay-
ment requires notice to an insured within the same window of time permitted for
denials of healthcare provider claims: the insurer must provide “written notice
of the denial, within 60 calendar days of receiving a claim from the provider, to
the insured[.]” And if the insurer receives a claim by a healthcare provider, the
insurer must timely provide “a copy of the notice of the denial * * * to a provider of
services under ORS 742.524(1)(a).” ORS 742.528(2). Additionally, ORS 742.529
allows an insurer to seek reimbursement from healthcare providers. If an insurer
pays PIP benefits “based on information that appeared to establish proof of loss
and the insurer paying the benefits later determines” that it was not responsible
for the payment, “the insurer shall give notice and explanation to the provider
that the payment was incorrectly issued. Immediately after receiving the notice
and explanation the provider shall promptly repay the insurer.” ORS 742.529.
8
The presumption was added to the statute in 1987. As the testimony of one
of the opponents of the presumption indicates, the presumption was designed to
induce prompt payment of medical bills. At a public hearing for House Bill (HB)
2443 before the Senate Business, Housing and Finance Committee, a manager
for a medical cost containment company read from prepared testimony in opposi-
tion to HB 2443. She contended that “[t]he wording in [HB] 2443 would prohibit
insurers identifying accuracy and utilization issues in medical bills.” Exhibit K,
Senate Business, Housing and Finance Committee, May 12, 1987 (accompanying
statement of Faye Stump).
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 77
presumption in place for any other “expenses of medical * * *
services” that an injured person may claim. In other words,
the absence of presumptions for mandated PIP benefits is
not anomalous in the PIP statutory scheme.
That leaves the third meaning suggested by the
text of the phrase “expenses of medical * * * services”: costs
that originate with, or that are actuated by, the rendered
medical treatment or the physician’s performance of work.
Such costs would include the medications and medical sup-
plies and equipment that a physician prescribes for treat-
ment of the injured person. None of the relevant context dis-
cussed above contradicts that reading, and that reading is
supported by legislative history.
C.  Legislative History
Neither party urges us to consider the legislative
history of ORS 742.524(1)(a) to support their differing views
of the statute. But, as we have done in numerous cases, we
review the legislative history to determine whether the stat-
ute contains any latent ambiguity overlooked in our “plain
meaning” analysis. See, e.g., Ware v. Hall, 342 Or 444, 452
n 6, 154 P3d 118 (2007) (“[t]o the extent that text and con-
text le[ft] any doubt about the legislature’s intent, the legis-
lative history remove[d] it”). We review pertinent legislative
history, bearing in mind that “an examination of legislative
history is most useful when it is able to uncover the mani-
fest general legislative intent behind an enactment.” Errand
v. Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Inc., 320 Or 509, 539 n 4, 888
P2d 544 (1995) (Graber, J., dissenting).
The origin and development of ORS 742.524(1)(a)
is a bit cluttered due to the renumbering of statutes, but
demonstrates that the phrase at issue, “expenses of med-
ical * * * services,” is essentially unchanged in form since
the original PIP legislation was enacted. In 1971, the leg-
islature enacted House Bill (HB) 1300, which incorporated
the PIP benefits provision. Or Laws 1971, ch 523, § 2. The
benefits provision in section 2 of the bill was codified as for-
mer ORS 743.800, and the phrase currently found in ORS
742.524(1)(a) was written as “expenses for medical * * * ser-
vices.” (Emphasis added.) In 1981, the benefits provision was
moved to former ORS 743.805, Or Laws 1981, ch 414, § 2,
78 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
and the phrase was changed to its current form, with “of”
replacing “for.”9 In 1987, former ORS 743.805 was amended
to include the presumption discussed above. Or Laws 1987,
ch 588, § 2. And, finally, in 1989, former ORS 743.805 was
renumbered as ORS 742.524.
At their inception in 1971, PIP benefits were directed
toward prompt payment of two types of major expenses:
medical costs and replacement of loss of income (or cost of
essential services for those not employed in a remunerative
occupation). As introduced, HB 1300 proposed the creation
of PIP benefits and procedures for obtaining those benefits.
During consideration of the bill, Insurance Commissioner
Bateson, a proponent, and others testified. In his presen-
tation to the Subcommittee on Financial Affairs of the
House State and Federal Affairs Committee, Commissioner
Bateson explained the purpose of the bill:
“This bill is designed to meet the problem of speed and
certainty of payment of medical costs and loss of wages as
a result of personal injuries sustained in auto accidents.”
Exhibit C, Subcommittee on Financial Affairs, House State
and Federal Affairs Committee, HB 1300, Feb 24, 1971
(accompanying statement of Insurance Commissioner
Cornelius Bateson). He elaborated on section 2 of the bill,
which described PIP benefits of “up to $3,000 of medical
payment” and “85% of wage loss for 1 year after a 14-day
waiting period” or “cost of essential services provided by a
person who is not normally engaged in a remunerative occu-
pation for 1 year after a 14-day waiting period.” Id.
In a separate written statement, Bateson described
his creation of “a special advisory committee on auto insur-
ance.” Exhibit E, Subcommittee on Financial Affairs, House
State and Federal Affairs Committee, HB 1300, Feb 24,
9
The change in the words from “for” to “of” might prompt a question as to
whether the legislature intended to change the scope of covered expenses. The
parties agree that the wording change does not appear to have been intended
as meaningful, and we are not aware of any legislative history to the contrary.
Although the dissent views the term “for” as having a broad meaning that is
consistent with the broad meaning of the term “of” that the dissent advances,
Dowell, 361 Or at 93-94 (Walters, J., dissenting), “for” can also mean “because of”
or “on account of,” Webster’s at 886, which is consistent with our reading of the
term “of” in the statute.
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 79
1971 (accompanying statement of Commissioner Bateson).
According to Bateson, that committee met frequently through-
out 1970, and it “considered the problems of automobile
insurance in Oregon, considered a number of possible solu-
tions and prepared recommended legislation which [was]
submitted to the 1971 Legislature.” Id. The committee
reached several conclusions, including:
“3)  That speed of payment of a claim is often as import-
ant as whether or not it is paid at all. Prolonged adjust-
ment procedures during which the injured party is without
wages or wage replacement, during which hospital, doctor
or repair bills go unpaid.
“* * * That bill is HB 1299.
“4)  That * * * there are still many people whose cov-
erage for economic loss sustained in auto accidents is less
than adequate.
“Loss of wages and medical bills is the major source
of such economic losses. While a majority of auto policies
provide ‘Med-pay’ coverage, wage loss coverage is rare as a
first party auto coverage. Therefore the committee has pre-
pared a bill which provides for the mandatory inclusion of
$3,000 of medical payments and 85% of actual wage loss for
one year (subject to certain limitations) in each insurance
policy which covers a private passenger automobile. This
bill is HB 1300.”
Id.At that same hearing, Ulrich, Underwriting Super-
intendent of State Farm Insurance Companies and President
of the Automobile Plan of Oregon, also testified, reading a
one-page statement. In that statement, Ulrich agreed “with
the basic desirability of including medical payments cover-
age and loss of income benefits in policies carried by Oregon
motorists.” Exhibit D, Subcommittee on Financial Affairs,
House State and Federal Affairs Committee, HB 1300, Feb
24, 1971 (accompanying statement of Paul Ulrich). Ulrich
also raised another theme of the hearing: concerns over
the costs. Ulrich stated that the proposed coverage “will
certainly increase the cost of auto insurance by a substan-
tial amount. In some cases, the increase will affect motor-
ists who neither need nor want the coverage because other
80 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
coverage is carried.” Id. The concern over costs and the effect
that the law would have on low-income Oregonians who had
to purchase auto insurance was shared by Representative
Howard at an April 14, 1971, hearing before the House State
and Federal Affairs Full Committee and by Representative
Stathos at a May 3, 1971, hearing before the same committee.
Minutes, House State and Federal Affairs Full Committee,
Apr 14, 1971, 1; Minutes, House State and Federal Affairs
Full Committee, May 3, 1971, 2.10
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on May 19,
1971, Commissioner Bateson explained HB 1300 much as he
had done in the earlier subcommittee meeting, although, by
that time, the limits placed on the amounts of PIP benefits
for wage loss had been reduced. Bateson also addressed the
committee’s concern with premium costs. Tape Recording,
Senate Judiciary Committee, HB 1300, May 19, 1971, Tape
10, Side 2 (statement of Commissioner Bateson). Smith, a
member of the Commissioner’s Advisory Committee, testified
that HB 1300 would solve some problems, including delayed
payments and insured motorists not receiving some form of
indemnity when injured. Tape Recording, Senate Judiciary
Committee, HB 1300, May 19, 1971, Tape 10, Side 2 (state-
ment of Edwin E. Smith). Another problem that HB 1300
would solve, added Smith, would be a reduction in litigation,
particularly concerning smaller claims, because HB 1300
would ensure that an individual’s wages and medical bills
would be paid, thereby reducing the incentive to sue. Id.Thus, the legislative history available to us from
1971 does not indicate that the legislature was concerned
with delayed payments to injured motorists for their trans-
portation costs to receive medical care. Instead, that history
demonstrates that the legislation leading to ORS 742.524(1)(a)
was introduced to encourage prompt payment of two major
types of losses for injured motorists, namely, medical costs
and lost wages, a conclusion underscored by the testimony
of Insurance Commissioner Bateson and other insurance
industry and advisory committee witnesses.
10
Although it is not our usual practice to cite legislative committee minutes
as authority for the discussion of the bill that took place in the committee, in this
case, we must make an exception. We do so because the Oregon State Archives
has “not received tapes of the Full Committee except for a few meetings in June.”
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 81
We are not persuaded by plaintiff’s argument that
a failure to read ORS 742.524(1)(a) to include an insured’s
transportation expenses incurred for traveling to and from
medical providers would frustrate the legislative policy of
ensuring prompt reimbursements for an injured person’s
expenses and thereby reducing litigation between drivers.
We reject plaintiff’s suggestion that the purpose of PIP bene-
fits is to “provide for broader, not more restrictive, coverage.”
That proposition may be supported by Colorado law, which
plaintiff cites as authority, but there is nothing in the legisla-
tive history of ORS 742.524(1)(a) that suggests that the leg-
islature’s purpose in enacting the PIP benefits statute was
to fully compensate injured motorists on a no-fault basis.
In summary, although the legislative history is not
as detailed as it could be, the evidence available indicates that
the legislative committees considering HB 1300 understood
that the rationale for the legislation included reducing liti-
gation while maintaining reasonable insurance premiums.
Both legislators and the insurance industry voiced concerns
about the effect of PIP benefits on increases in premiums
for auto insurance. And, specifically as to the medical PIP
benefits, the discussion in legislative committee hearings in
1971, concerning “medical bills,” “medical payments,” and
“medical expenses,” focused on medical care. The descrip-
tions of what the PIP medical benefit was intended to cover
were not limited to healthcare providers’ services; instead,
they more broadly described the medical benefit.
Thus, the legislative history is consistent with our
reading of the phrase “expenses of medical * * * services” in
ORS 742.524(1)(a) as including (1) the cost of professional ser-
vices provided by licensed or certified healthcare providers
and (2) medications and medical supplies and equipment
that they have prescribed for the injured motorists that they
treat. Accordingly, we agree with the trial court and the
Court of Appeals that the legislature did not intend trans-
portation costs for medical care to be a benefit under the PIP
statutes.
D.  Out-of-State Cases
Plaintiff nevertheless contends that four out-of-state
cases are persuasive authority for a contrary interpretation
82 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
of ORS 742.524(1)(a). Plaintiff correctly notes that courts in
other jurisdictions have held that transportation expenses
to and from healthcare providers are compensable under
their relevant state’s PIP statutes. It is undisputed that the
majority approach among the states is that transportation
expenses to and from health care providers are reimburs-
able PIP expenses. See, e.g., 12 Couch on Insurance § 171.64
(3d ed) (“Transportation expenses incurred traveling to
and from medical providers for treatment of covered inju-
ries arising out of an automobile accident are compensable
under a no-fault or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insur-
ance policy because these transportation costs are incurred
in connection with, and are causally related to, reasonable
and necessary medical services.”); 4 Automobile Liability
Insurance 4th § 56:1 (“The cost of transportation to and from
a doctor’s office in order to receive necessary medical treat-
ment is normally a reimbursable medical benefit expense.”).
However, for the following reasons, those cases do not per-
suade us that plaintiff’s, or the dissent’s, interpretation of
ORS 742.524(1)(a) is correct.
We address only two of plaintiff’s out-of-state
cases—Malu v. Security Nat’l Ins. Co., 898 So 2d 69 (Fla
2005), and Allstate Ins. Co. v. Smith, 902 P2d 1386 (Colo
1995)—because only those cases involved statutory texts
analogous to the text at issue in ORS 742.524(1)(a).11 But
despite the superficial similarity between the PIP statutes
construed in Malu and Smith and in ORS 742.524(1)(a),
those two cases are of limited persuasive value, because
of the policy and interpretive principles that the courts in
those cases applied.
In Malu, the Florida PIP statute provided that the
following medical expenses were compensable:
“Eighty percent of all reasonable expenses for med-
ically necessary medical, surgical, X-ray, dental, and
11
The other two cases that plaintiff cites, Plemmons v. New Jersey Auto. Full
Ins. Underwriting Ass’n, 622 A2d 275 (NJ Super Ct App Div 1993), and Davis v.
Citizens Ins. Co. of America, 489 NW2d 214 (Mich 1992), are not useful, because
they involved statutes that, by their express terms, provided broader coverage
than does ORS 742.524(1)(a).
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 83
rehabilitative services, including prosthetic devices and
medically necessary ambulance, hospital, and nursing
services.”
Fla Stat § 627.736(1)(a) (2003) (emphases added). The
Florida Supreme Court held that the state’s PIP statute
required an insurer to reimburse transportation costs that
an insured incurred in connection with medical treatment
that was reasonably medically necessary. Malu, 898 So 2d
at 76. In doing so, the court underscored that it had pre-
viously held that “the PIP statute should be interpreted
liberally to effectuate the legislative purpose of providing
broad PIP coverage for Florida motorists.” Id. at 74 (empha-
sis added; citations omitted). And the court determined that
“[i]nterpreting the statutory language to include such travel
expenses [was] consistent with effectuating this legislative
purpose.” Id.
The court bolstered that determination by highlight-
ing the Florida legislature’s tacit consent to the inclusion
of transportation expenses in PIP benefits. The court noted
that, 17 years before, in Hunter v. Allstate Insurance Co.,
498 So 2d 514 (Fla 5th Dist Ct App 1986), a Florida appeals
court had “held that medical transportation expenses were
reimbursable under the statute.” Id. at 75. The Florida
Supreme Court stressed that the compensability of medical
transportation expenses under the PIP statute “ha[d] never
been questioned by the Legislature since” that 1986 deci-
sion, a fact that led the court to conclude that the legislature
had “tacitly approved” of that construction. Malu, 898 So 2d
at 75-76.
In Smith, the Colorado Supreme Court held that
“[m]ileage costs for travel to and from health care pro-
viders for treatment of injuries arising from an automo-
bile accident are expenses for medical services that must
be paid by the insurer under” the Colorado Auto Accident
Reparations Act (Act), Colorado’s PIP statute, Colo Rev
Stat § 10-4-706(1)(b) (1994) (repealed by Laws 1997, HB
97-1209, § 8, eff July 1, 2003). 902 P2d at 1389. That stat-
ute provided that an insurer must reimburse the following
expenses:
84 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
“all reasonable and necessary expenses for medical, chi-
ropractic, optometric, podiatric, hospital, nursing, X-ray,
dental, surgical, ambulance, and prosthetic services, and
non-medical remedial care and treatment rendered in
accordance with a recognized religious method of healing,
performed within five years after the accident for bodily
injury arising out of the use or operation of a motor vehicle.”
Colo Rev Stat § 10-4-706(1)(b) (emphasis added). The court
explained that the “legislative intent and policy behind the
Act are to maximize, not minimize[,] insurance coverage
* * * and to ensure that persons injured in automobile acci-
dents are fully compensated for their injuries.” Smith, 902
P2d at 1387.12 The court also discussed public policy, not-
ing that, “[i]n the modern health care system, travel to and
from health care providers is an essential element of medi-
cal treatment” and that “the cost of transportation expenses
is especially burdensome in the case of rural residents who
may have to travel significant distances to obtain medical
services.” Id. at 1388. The court therefore concluded that
both the text of the statute and the statute’s remedial pur-
pose of maximizing insurance coverage required that travel
expenses necessary to obtain medical services be compensa-
ble. Id. at 1389.
As illustrated by the foregoing discussion, in reach-
ing the conclusion that transportation expenses were reim-
bursable, the courts in Malu and Smith relied heavily on the
legislative purpose of providing broad or maximum PIP ben-
efits coverage and on public policy. We are satisfied that the
statutory schemes in those states—Florida and Colorado—
differ from Oregon’s PIP statutory scheme.
Although Oregon’s PIP statute has similar text, the
Oregon PIP statutes do not include a statement dictating
that the purpose of the PIP statutes is to provide broad cov-
erage, nor has this court so stated. In fact, our case law rec-
ognizes limited, not broad, PIP benefit coverage. In Perez,
12
The Act’s legislative declaration provided:
“The general assembly declares that its purpose in enacting this part 7 is to
avoid inadequate compensation to victims of automobile accidents[.]”
Colo Rev Stat § 10-4-702 (emphasis added).
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 85
we stated that the PIP statutes were created to provide
reimbursement for some, not all, out-of-pocket losses result-
ing from motor vehicle accidents. Perez, 289 Or at 300.
Moreover, it appears that, in at least two ways,
Oregon’s PIP statute is more limited than the acts in other
states. Most of the various state PIP statutes “require an
insurer to provide coverage for reasonable and necessary
medical expense incurred within a specified period follow-
ing the accident.” 4 Automobile Liability Insurance 4th
§ 56:1. The one-year period in the 2007 version of the Oregon
PIP statutes is the shortest of the periods specified.13 Id.
The longest fixed period appears to be that of the former
Colorado act in setting a five-year period; and Florida, along
with four other states, does not impose a time limit at all.
Id. In addition, reimbursement for medical expenses under
Oregon’s PIP statutes has been subject to a cap of $15,000
since 2003.14 Therefore, we do not consider Malu or Smith to
be helpful in our interpretation of ORS 742.524(1)(a).
In sum, the legislature did not intend expenses for
ordinary transportation to receive medical treatment or to
obtain medication to be PIP benefits under ORS 742.524(1)(a).
Instead, we conclude that the phrase “expenses of medical
* * * services” in that statute requires an insurer to pay for
healthcare bills and items that a physician or other health-
care provider prescribes for treatment, such as medications
and medical supplies and equipment.
The decision of the Court of Appeals and the judg-
ment of the circuit court are affirmed.
13
Oregon now has a two-year period. See ORS 742.524(1)(a) (2015) (PIP ben-
efits consist of “expenses of medical * * * services incurred within two years after
the date of the person’s injury”).
14
In contrast, the dissent views the existence of the cap on the total PIP
benefit as being consistent with an expansive understanding of covered medical
benefits that would include transportation costs, observing that including trans-
portation costs “would not increase the total benefits” for the injured person given
the cap. Dowell, 361 Or at 98 (Walters, J., dissenting). Although the total benefit
for a covered individual does not increase under the dissent’s interpretation of the
statute, there can be no question that the total cost of PIP claims would increase.
Should the legislature wish to extend PIP benefits to include the cost of travel to
obtain medical services, it is free to do so. However, as we view the terms of the
statute, insurers are not required to pay for those costs, and we cannot add them
to “expenses of medical * * * services” in ORS 742.524(1)(a).
86 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
WALTERS, J., dissenting.
If the terms of ORS 742.524(1)(a) (2007) unambig-
uously precluded payment of transportation expenses, then
this court would have no choice but to interpret that stat-
ute to deny injured motorists access to necessary medical
care. However, as the majority acknowledges, the text of
ORS 742.524(1)(a) is not so clearly limited; it can be read to
require payment of such expenses. The statute’s text requires
payment of “[a]ll reasonable and necessary expenses of
medical * * * services,” ORS 742.524(1)(a), and the word
“expenses” means “a cost[ ] to secure a benefit or bring about
a result,” 361 Or at 70. Because transportation costs may
be costs incurred to secure the benefit of medical services,
the statute’s text may be understood to require payment of
such costs, and its context and legislative history demon-
strate that that is, in fact, what the legislature intended.
As context, the legislature has instructed that the statute
was enacted for “the protection of the insurance-buying pub-
lic,” ORS 731.008, and that it must be “liberally construed,”
ORS 731.016. The statute’s legislative history indicates that
the legislature intended to require insurers to promptly pay
their insureds’ economic losses to increase insureds’ chances
for full recovery and to avoid the need for contentious third-
party litigation.
Had the majority given effect to the statute’s text,
context, and legislative history, and followed the lead of all
courts that have considered the question, the majority would
have interpreted ORS 742.524(1)(a) to require insurers to
pay transportation costs. Instead, the majority chooses a
unique interpretation of ORS 742.524(1)(a) that requires
insurers to pay other costs incurred to secure the benefit
of medical services—costs for medication, supplies, and
equipment—but not transportation costs. That interpreta-
tion departs from law and logic and leaves those who do not
have the means to travel to secure necessary medical care
without the same chances for full recovery and opportunity
to avoid litigation that others have. That is wrong, and I
dissent.
I begin by explaining in more detail the reason-
ing that this court would engage in if it were to follow its
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 87
ordinary paradigm and interpret ORS 742.524(1)(a) to
require payment of transportation expenses. I then show
how far the majority reaches—disregarding the meaning
of the word “expenses,” relying on an illogical meaning of
the word “of,” refusing to interpret the statute in accordance
with legislative direction, and turning away from the stat-
ute’s legislative history—to deny insureds the benefit of the
insurance policies that they are required to purchase.
If this court were to follow settled law, it would
focus, first, on the statute’s text and give ORS 742.524(1)(a)1
its plain meaning. PGE v. Bureau of Labor and Industries,
317 Or 606, 610, 859 P2d 1143 (1993). ORS 742.524(1)(a)
requires payment of “[a]ll” reasonable and necessary
“expenses” of medical services. Giving the word “expenses”
its ordinary meaning, ORS 742.524(1)(a) requires payment
of costs “expended to secure a benefit relating to work that is
performed by another, when that work involves the practice
of medicine.” Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co., 268 Or App
672, 677, 343 P3d 283 (2015).2 Because transportation may
be necessary to secure a physician’s treatment, transporta-
tion costs come within those statutory terms: They are costs
expended to secure a medical benefit. The legislature did not
intend to cover only some of the reasonable and necessary
1
ORS 742.524(1)(a) requires the insurer to reimburse the insured for
“[a]ll reasonable and necessary expenses of medical, hospital, dental, sur-
gical, ambulance and prosthetic services incurred within one year after the
date of the person’s injury, but not more than $15,000 in the aggregate for all
such expenses of the person.”
2
The Court of Appeals arrived at that meaning by examining the dictionary
definitions of the statutory terms:
“ ‘Expense’ may be defined as ‘something that is expended in order to secure
a benefit or bring about a result[.]’ Webster’s Third New Int’l Dictionary 800
(unabridged ed 2002). ‘Of’ may be defined as ‘relating to: with reference to:
as regards: ABOUT[.]’ Id. at 1565 (boldface in original). ‘Medical’ may be
defined as ‘of, relating to, or concerned with physicians or with the practice
of medicine often as distinguished from surgery[,]’ and ‘medicine’ may be
defined as ‘the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health, and
the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease[.]’ Id. at 1402. ‘Service’ may be
defined as ‘the performance of work commanded or paid for by another[.]’ Id.
at 2075. Thus, the plain meaning of ‘expenses of medical * * * services’ may
be construed as something that is expended to secure a benefit relating to
work that is performed by another, when that work involves the practice of
medicine (the maintenance of health, and the prevention, alleviation, or cure
of disease).”
Dowell, 268 Or App at 676-77 (brackets in original).
88 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
costs expended to secure medical benefits; it intended to
cover “[a]ll” such costs. ORS 742.524(1)(a).
Having given the statute’s text its ordinary mean-
ing, this court then would turn, for context, to other statutes
that, like ORS 742.524(1)(a), are part of the Insurance Code.
See Northwest Natural Gas Co. v. City of Gresham, 359 Or
309, 322, 374 P3d 829 (2016) (quoting PGE, 317 Or at 611)
(“The context of the statute includes ‘other provisions of the
same statute and other related statutes.’ ”). ORS 731.008
provides that “the Insurance Code is for the protection of
the insurance-buying public,” and ORS 731.016 provides
that the Insurance Code “shall be liberally construed.”
Oregon law requires that all drivers obtain liabil-
ity insurance and purchase first-party PIP insurance. ORS
806.080. Therefore, drivers who pay premiums for that insur-
ance are members of the insurance-buying public. Drivers
who suffer injuries may have to travel long distances to
obtain specialized care. In most respects, Oregon is a rural
state, and Portland is a hub for specialized medical care. See
Horton v. OHSU, 359 Or 168, 171, 376 P3d 998 (2016) (pedi-
atric surgery specialist performed operation to remove mass
on plaintiff’s liver); Ackerman v. OHSU Medical Group, 233
Or App 511, 514, 227 P3d 744 (2010) (plaintiff underwent
surgery at OHSU to repair injured disc in neck); Clarke v.
OHSU, 343 Or 581, 586, 175 P3d 418, 421 (2007) (plaintiff
underwent surgery at OHSU to repair congenital heart
defect). Giving effect to the statute’s context and following
the legislature’s instructions, this court would construe
ORS 742.524(1)(a) liberally, so that those who pay PIP pre-
miums and who need specialized care receive payment for
all reasonable and necessary costs that they incur to secure
medical services, including transportation costs. This court
followed exactly that method of analysis in Gearhart v. PUC,
356 Or 216, 244, 339 P3d 904 (2014) (reading related stat-
utes together and following legislature’s direction that laws
administered by Public Utility Commission should be “liber-
ally construed”), and State v. Walker, 356 Or 4, 17, 333 P3d
316 (2014) (considering instruction that ORICO statutes
“shall by liberally construed” in its construction of those
statutes).
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 89
Having considered relevant statutory context, this
court also would look to the legislative history of ORS
742.524(1)(a) and would find that it supports an interpreta-
tion of the statute that requires payment of transportation
costs incurred to secure medical services. The legislative
history indicates that the legislature required drivers to
purchase first-party PIP insurance to provide speedy pay-
ment of economic losses to increase injured persons’ chances
of recovery and to reduce third-party litigation. In a portion
of that legislative history that the majority quotes, but only
selectively, Dowell, 361 Or at 78-79, Commissioner Bateson
explained that there was a need for first-party insurance
because
“speed of payment of a claim is often as important as
whether or not it is paid at all. Prolonged adjustment pro-
cedures during which the injured party is without wages or
wage replacement, during which hospital, doctor or repair
bills go unpaid and during which needed rehabilitation is
delayed, frequently damage the claimant’s family, his credit
rating and his chance for full recovery. Delay in settlement
may also engender in the claimant an attitude toward
the insurer which will be uncooperative, even vengeful,
and may lead to a larger ultimate claim or settlement
than would have been the case if prompt payment were
made.
Exhibit E, Subcommittee on Financial Affairs, House State
and Federal Affairs Committee, HB 1300, Feb 24, 1971
(accompanying statement of Insurance Commissioner
Cornelius Bateson) (emphases added). Commissioner Bateson
further explained
“[t]hat, despite the uninsured motorists coverage which
is required in every auto liability insurance policy issued
in Oregon, there are still many people whose coverage
for economic loss sustained in auto accidents is less than
adequate.”
Id. (emphasis added).
If this court were following settled principles of stat-
utory construction, the court would interpret ORS 742.524(1)
(a) to have a meaning consistent with the legislature’s artic-
ulated purposes. See State v. Johnson, 339 Or 69, 81 n 7, 116
90 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
P3d 879 (2005) (discerning legislature’s “clear overall pur-
pose in enacting” the statute). In Commissioner Bateson’s
words, paying an injured person’s economic loss would
increase the person’s chance for full recovery and reduce the
need for third-party litigation. To the contrary, precluding
payment of transportation expenses would defeat the leg-
islature’s purposes. If an injured person did not have the
means to travel for specialized care, not only would bills go
unpaid, the person would not receive necessary treatment,
reducing the person’s chances for full recovery. And, even
if the injured person did have the means to travel, the only
way that the person could recover transportation expenses
would be to bring a third-party action, defeating the legis-
lature’s purpose of avoiding the need for such litigation. The
legislature’s purposes explain why it chose to require pay-
ment of “[a]ll” reasonable and necessary “expenses of medi-
cal * * * services.” ORS 742.524(1)(a) (emphasis added).
Finally, if this court were to follow settled law, it
also would look to the reasoning of other courts for guid-
ance. See, e.g., Priest v. Pearce, 314 Or 411, 419, 840 P2d
65 (1992) (looking to decisions of other state courts inter-
preting parallel constitutional provisions for guidance). In
doing so, this court would find that all of the courts that
have considered the matter have interpreted their PIP
statutes to require payment of transportation costs. See
Anderson et al, 12 Couch on Insurance § 171.64 (3d ed 1984)
(“Transportation expenses incurred traveling to and from
medical providers for treatment of covered injuries arising
out of an automobile accident are compensable under a
no-fault or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance
policy[,] because these transportation costs are incurred
in connection with, and are causally related to, reasonable
and necessary medical services.”); Arthur Larson & Lex
K. Larson, 5 Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law § 94.03,
94-98 (2012) (“Transportation costs necessarily incurred in
connection with medical treatment are compensable, even if
the act speaks only of medical and hospital services.”).
For instance, in Malu v. Security Nat’l Ins. Co.,
898 So 2d 69 (Fla 2005), the Florida Supreme Court held
that its similarly worded PIP statute required payment of
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 91
transportation expenses.3 That court previously had held
that “the language of the PIP statute should be interpreted
liberally to effectuate the legislative purpose of providing
broad PIP coverage for Florida motorists.” Id. at 76 (citations
omitted). In Malu, the court determined that “[i]nterpret-
ing the statutory language to include such travel expenses
[was] consistent with effectuating this legislative purpose.”
Id.; see also Allstate Ins. Co. v. Smith, 902 P2d 1386 (Colo
1995) (relying on remedial purpose of statute in favor of
insured motorists).
Had the majority been guided by that legal author-
ity, it, too, would have required payment of transportation
expenses necessarily incurred in connection with medical
treatment. Instead, however, the majority reads the phrase
“expenses of medical * * * services,” ORS 742.524(1)(a), to
require an insurer to pay the cost of medication, supplies,
and equipment that healthcare providers prescribe, but not
the cost of transportation. Dowell, 361 Or at 81. As I will
explain, that conclusion does not follow from the statute’s
text, context, or legislative history.
The majority begins, as it must, with the statute’s
text and correctly recognizes that the word “expense” means
“something that is expended, a cost, to secure a benefit or
bring about a result.” Id. at 70. However, instead of grappling
with the fact that transportation can be “a cost[ ] to secure a
benefit or bring about a result”—medical care—the majority
interprets the phrase “expenses of medical * * * services” to
mean “costs that originate with, or that are actuated by, the
rendered medical treatment or the physician’s performance
of work.” Id. at 77. The majority then reasons that costs for
items such as medication, supplies, and equipment qualify,
but costs for transportation do not. Id.
In arriving at its interpretation of the phrase
“expenses of medical * * * services,” the majority commits
3
The Florida statute provided that the following medical expenses were
compensable:
“Eighty percent of all reasonable expenses for medically necessary medi-
cal, surgical, X-ray, dental, and rehabilitative services, including prosthetic
devices, and medically necessary ambulance, hospital, and nursing services.”
Fla Stat § 627.736(1)(a) (2003) (emphases added).
92 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
two errors. The majority’s first error is in defining the word
“expenses” to mean “a cost[ ] to secure a benefit” but then
reading that word and its meaning out of its interpretation
of the phrase. That error violates the tenet of statutory con-
struction that requires that the court give meaning to all the
words that the legislature uses. See ORS 174.010 (“[W]here
there are several provisions or particulars such construc-
tion is, if possible, to be adopted as will give effect to all.”);
see also Force v. Dept. of Rev., 350 Or 179, 190, 252 P3d 306
(2011) (“Statutory provisions, however, must be construed, if
possible, in a manner that ‘will give effect to all’ of them.”).
The majority’s second error is in transferring its
focus to the meaning of the word “of” and the definition that
it ascribes to that word. Instead of giving the word “of” the
meaning adopted by the parties and the Court of Appeals—
“relating to”—the majority selects other dictionary defini-
tions to conclude that it means “originate with” or “actuated
by.” Dowell, 361 Or at 77. The majority first says that “of”
means “from as the place of birth, production, or distribution :
having as its base of operation, point of initiation, or source
of issuance or derivation,” id. at 70 (emphasis added), as
used in the phrase “[of] or relating to Italy,” Webster’s Third
New Int’l Dictionary 1565 (unabridged ed 2002). Then, the
majority says, even if that locational meaning is not correct,
the word “of” also can have two alternative meanings: It
can be used as a function word to (1) “indicate the cause,
motive, or reason by which a person or thing is actuated or
impelled,” as in the phrase “die [of] shame”; or (2) “indicate
a quality or possession characterizing or distinguishing a
subject,” as in the phrase “men [of] goodwill.” Id. at 1565;
361 Or at 70. The majority then selects words from the loca-
tional meaning of the word “of” and one of the alternative
definitions that it suggests and decides that the word “of”
means “originate with” or “actuated by.” 361 Or at 77. Thus,
the majority interprets the phrase “expenses of medical * * *
services” to mean costs that “originate with” or are “actu-
ated by” medical services. Id.
The meaning that the majority gives to the word “of”
cannot be the meaning that the legislature intended. First,
the legislature used the word “of” in conjunction with the pre-
ceding word “expenses,” which, as the majority recognizes,
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 93
means costs to secure a benefit. Id. at 70. Therefore, the leg-
islature must have used the word “of” to describe the nature
of the costs that an insured incurs to secure insurance ben-
efits: Those costs not only must be costs incurred to secure
some benefit; they must be costs to secure the benefit of the
listed medical services. That understanding of the meaning
of the word “of” is consistent with the definition that the par-
ties and the Court of Appeals deem appropriate—“related
to”—and with the second alternative definition that the
majority posits—that the costs that an insured incurs must
have qualities that distinguish them from other costs. In
other words, the costs “of” services must be costs related to
the listed services or incurred to secure the listed services.
In contrast, however, the legislature could not have intended
the word “of” to have the meaning ascribed by the majority.
The legislature knew that the reason that a motorist incurs
costs is that the motorist has suffered injuries in a motor
vehicle accident; the motorist’s motive for incurring costs is
to obtain treatment of those injuries, and those injuries are
the originating source of the costs. The legislature did not
use the word “of” as a function word to refer to the motive
that impels an insured to incur costs.
Second, the legislature expressly required payment
of at least one listed expense that does not “originate with” and
that is not “actuated by” medical services. ORS 742.524(1)(a)
requires payment of expenses of “ambulance” services, and
such expenses precede and do not “originate with” medical
treatment. Ambulance costs also are not “actuated by” med-
ical treatment. If the legislature had intended the word “of”
to mean “originat[ing] with” or “actuated by” medical treat-
ment, that intent would be at odds with its requirement that
insurers compensate insureds for ambulance expenses.
Third, the conclusion that the legislature did not
use “of” to mean “originate with” or “actuated by” is clear
from the fact that the legislature used the word “of” inter-
changeably with the word “for”; the word “for” does not have
those meanings. As originally enacted, ORS 742.524(1)(a)
used the word “for” rather than “of” in the phrase “reason-
able and necessary expenses for” medical services. Or Laws
1971, ch 523, § 2. As the majority recognizes, that change in
use “does not appear to have been intended as meaningful.”
94 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
Dowell, 361 Or at 78. The word “for” is defined to mean,
among other things, “as regards : in respect to : concerning.”
Webster’s 886. It also is defined to mean “so as to secure a
result.” Id. It is not defined to mean “originate with” or “actu-
ated by.” To have used the words “of” and “for” interchange-
ably, the legislature must have understood those words to
have a common meaning, and that common meaning can
only be “relating to” or “to secure a result.”4
Fourth, even if the word “of” could be used to mean
“originate with,” or “actuated by,” the statute would require
payment of transportation costs when a physician directs an
injured person to obtain specialized care at a distant loca-
tion. When the majority interprets the word “of” to include
costs “prescribed” by a physician, such as medications, but
not to include transportation costs, presumably because they
are not “prescribed,” the majority adds a requirement that
the statute does not include and violates another tenet of
statutory construction. See ORS 174.010 (“In the construc-
tion of a statute, the office of the judge is simply to ascer-
tain and declare what is, in terms or in substance, contained
therein, not to insert what has been omitted, or to omit what
has been inserted[.]”).
When the majority turns to statutory context to
determine whether it supports the textual meaning that the
majority posits, the majority again commits error. As noted,
the legislature directs that “the Insurance Code is for the
protection of the insurance-buying public,” ORS 731.008,
and “shall be liberally construed,” ORS 731.016. Although
the majority agrees that those statutes function as con-
text for its interpretation of ORS 742.524(1)(a), it refuses
to “employ” them. Dowell, 361 Or at 73. That is not what
this court has done in the past. For instance, in Walker, a
case that this court decided in 2014, this court applied the
legislative instruction that the ORICO statutes “shall by
liberally construed” in its analysis of the statute’s text and
context. 356 Or at 17.
4
The majority argues, in a footnote, that “for” can also mean “because of” or
“on account of,” and that that meaning is consistent with the meaning that the
majority ascribes. Dowell, 361 Or at 78 n 9. But an injured motorist incurs costs
to secure a benefit because of or on account of the motorist’s injuries, not because
of or on account of “medical services.”
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 95
The majority does not explain its departure from
Walker. Instead, the majority addresses plaintiff’s argument
that a 1997 case, Carrigan v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins.
Co., 326 Or 97, 104, 949 P2d 705 (1997), requires liberal con-
struction of the PIP statutes. The majority observes that, in
Carrigan, the court considered the legislature’s instruction
only after it had considered the text, context, and legislative
history of the statute at issue and found that the statute’s
meaning remained unclear. Dowell, 361 Or at 73. Perhaps
that was what the court did in Carrigan in 1997, but that
was not what the court did in Walker in 2014. Moreover,
Carrigan does not justify refusing to give the legislature’s
instruction any consideration at all.
In this case, the majority not only fails to give effect
to ORS 731.016 and ORS 731.008 as statutory context, it
compounds its error by refusing to consider those statutes at
any point in its analysis. If the majority intends to claim that
the text, context, and legislative history of ORS 742.524(1)(a)
so clearly compel a result that it can disregard the legisla-
ture’s interpretive direction, then it should explicitly stake
out that claim.
The majority does not do so. Instead, the majority
acknowledges that the text of the statute can be read in at
least three different ways, Dowell, 361 Or at 70-71, and says
that its context does no more than indicate “a problem” with
plaintiff’s reading of the statute, id. at 73-74.
Significantly, the majority does not draw support
for its own unique interpretation of the statute from the
statutory context on which it relies, nor could it. The “prob-
lem” that the majority identifies is that ORS 742.524(1)(a)
mentions one kind of transportation expense (ambulance
services) but not others, a reference that the majority claims
casts doubt on plaintiff’s interpretation. Id. That “problem”
would, however, present the same difficulty for the major-
ity’s interpretation as it does for plaintiff’s. For instance,
the statute mentions one type of medical service provider
who provides one type of medical equipment—prosthetic
service providers who provide prosthetic devices—but not
other types of medical service providers who provide other
items, such as pharmacists who provide medication. The
96 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
statute also specifically mentions certain service providers—
medical, surgical, and dental service providers—but does
not mention other service providers—pharmacists, nurses,
or optometrists.5 Applying the majority’s logic, reference to
certain specific service providers and the items that they
provide would exclude payment for others. For instance,
payment for both pharmacists and the medications that
they provide would be excluded.
The majority does not, and cannot, claim that the
statute’s context demonstrates, unambiguously, that its
interpretation of ORS 742.524(1)(a) is the correct one. In fact,
looking more closely at the “problem” to which the majority
points demonstrates that the legislature intended to impose
a general requirement that insurers pay all reasonable and
necessary costs to secure what are generally thought of as
medical services and also specifically listed some services
that it considered medical in nature—surgical and dental
services, for example—to make clear the breadth of its ref-
erence. In doing so, the legislature did not intend to exclude
other services, such as pharmaceutical, nursing, or optom-
etry services, or the costs necessary to secure the benefit of
those services.
Turning to legislative history, the majority observes
that the legislature did not discuss transportation expenses
and reasons that that “does not indicate that the legislature
was concerned with delayed payments to injured motorists
for their transportation costs to receive medical care.” Id.
at 80 (emphasis added). The majority cannot say what that
silence does indicate because it knows full well that legisla-
tive silence is an unreliable indicator of legislative intent.
See State v. Rainoldi, 351 Or 486, 492, 268 P3d 568 (2011)
(noting that, because fact of legislative silence can give rise
to competing inferences, it is generally not a dispositive indi-
cator of intent).
The majority nevertheless concludes that “the leg-
islative history is consistent with our reading of the phrase
‘expenses of medical * * * services’ in ORS 742.524(1)(a) as
including (1) the cost of professional services provided by
5
See ORS 677.060(7) (excluding pharmacy, nursing, and optometry services,
among others, from regulation of medicine).
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 97
licensed or certified healthcare providers and (2) medica-
tions and medical supplies and equipment that they have
prescribed for the injured motorists that they treat.” Dowell,
361 Or at 81 (emphasis added). How can that be so? The
legislative history fails to include a discussion of the costs of
medications, medical equipment, and the services of phar-
macists and nurses. If legislative silence does not indicate
that the legislature was concerned with payment of trans-
portation expenses, it also does not indicate that the legis-
lature was concerned with payment of the costs of medica-
tions, medical equipment, or the services of pharmacists or
nurses.
The majority also makes reference to the legisla-
ture’s discussion of the cost of PIP benefits, but it is wrong
to conclude that the legislature worded ORS 742.524(1)(a)
as it did to limit payment of costs necessary to secure med-
ical treatment. The legislative history demonstrates that
the costs of providing payment for “[a]ll” reasonable and
necessary “expenses for medical * * * services” were known
to the legislature and did not concern it. Many companies
already were selling, and drivers already were purchasing,
first-party insurance to cover medical expenses; the signifi-
cant added benefit in the PIP statutes was coverage for wage
loss.6 Furthermore, the method that the legislature chose to
6
In 1971, when the legislation at issue in this case was first enacted, Oregon
drivers were not required to have liability insurance to ensure that they would be
financially responsible for damages caused by their careless driving. Exhibit E,
Subcommittee on Financial Affairs, House State and Federal Affairs Committee,
HB 1300, Feb 24, 1971 (accompanying statement of Insurance Commissioner
Cornelius Bateson). However, the 1971 legislative history indicates that many
drivers nevertheless obtained liability insurance and had some coverage that
protected them even if a third party was not at fault or was not financially respon-
sible. Id. Oregon law required that liability insurance policies include coverage
for damages caused by uninsured motorists, and the majority of policies issued
in Oregon contained some form of “med-pay” coverage—payment of an insured’s
medical expenses without regard to fault. Id. Few policies, if any, contained cov-
erage for wage loss. Id. That was not satisfactory, in the eyes of the Insurance
Commissioner, Cornelius Bateson. He told the legislature that the system “by
which people protect themselves against financial loss due to auto accidents”
was far from perfect, and, nationally, “[had] been subjected to close scrutiny
and substantial criticism.” Subcommittee on Financial Affairs, House State and
Federal Affairs Committee, Feb 24, 1971 (statement of Insurance Commissioner
Cornelius Bateson).
In response to questions about increased premiums under the new law,
Commissioner Bateson replied that the cost of coverage from a substandard
insurance company insuring a high risk youthful driver with a “hot rod” car was
98 Dowell v. Oregon Mutual Ins. Co.
contain medical costs was to require that they be reasonable
and necessary, and to impose both monetary and durational
caps. ORS 742.524(1)(a)-(e). An insurer is required to pay no
more than $15,000 for aggregate medical expenses incurred
within one year7 after the date of the person’s injury.8 ORS
742.524(1)(a). Interpreting that statute to require payment
of an injured person’s transportation expenses would not
increase the total benefits for which that person would be
eligible.
Furthermore, if a concern with cost were to indicate
an intent to preclude payment of transportation expenses, it
would also indicate an intent to preclude payment for med-
ication. The cost of medication is significant. See Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Expenditures,
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/health-expenditures.htm
(Oct 7, 2016) (accessed Feb 14, 2017) (prescription drugs
accounted for 9.8 percent of total United States health
expenditures in 2014—$294 billion).
The majority does not claim or demonstrate that the
text, context, and legislative history of ORS 742.524(1)(a)
unambiguously demonstrate that it must be interpreted
as the majority reasons—to require an insurer “to pay for
healthcare bills and items that a physician or other health-
care provider prescribes for treatment, such as medications
and medical supplies and equipment.” Dowell, 361 Or at 85.
Therefore, even if only at the last step of its analysis, the
majority should have returned to the legislature’s direction
to interpret ORS 742.524(1)(a) liberally for the benefit of the
insurance-buying public. Had it done so, the majority would
have interpreted that statute to cover not only the cost of
“prescribed” medication and equipment, but also to cover
“[a]ll” reasonable and necessary costs to secure the benefit
of medical treatment, including transportation costs.
estimated to be an additional premium of $18 per year, while the cost for a driver
with a good record would probably not exceed an additional $14 or $15 per year.
Tape Recording, Senate Judiciary Committee, HB 1300, May 19, 1971, Tape 10,
Side 2. Mr. Bateson also said that one company was selling coverage slightly more
beneficial than the bill required for an additional premium of $7 per year. Id.
7
The current version of the ORS 742.524(1)(a) (2015) provides that PIP ben-
efits consist of “expenses of medical * * * services incurred within two years after
the date of the person’s injury.”
8
Originally, PIP benefits were capped at $3,000. Or Laws 1971, ch 523, § 2.
Cite as 361 Or 62 (2017) 99
The majority’s failure to give ORS 742.524(1)(a)
an interpretation that its words permit, that accords with
legislative direction, and that fulfills its purposes may not
be without remedy. Perhaps those in need will be able to
seek, and caring physicians will take the time to write, pre-
scriptions for transportation to secure specialized medical
care. After all, there is no conceptual difference between a
physician’s direction to obtain medication and a physician’s
direction to obtain transportation. Or, perhaps, the legisla-
ture will take time from other pressing matters to expressly
instruct insurers that “expenses of medical * * * services”
include the reasonable and necessary costs of transportation
to procure those services. ORS 742.524(1)(a).
But even if a remedy exists, the majority’s failure
sounds an alarm of injustice that extends beyond this case.
The majority’s conclusion that those without access to med-
ical care must forgo it or wait the time and bear the uncer-
tainty that litigation entails and that PIP benefits were
designed to avoid is not legally correct, and the means that
the majority adopts to justify that end deviate from our legal
norms. I dissent.
Baldwin and Brewer, JJ,. join in this dissenting
opinion.