Sterling Hanakahi, 73, and Anita Hanakahi, 70, of Tillamook say they were blindsided when Texas-based U.S. Renal Care executives announced they would close their kidney dialysis center in the coastal community Feb. 23. Anita has relied on the center for the past nine years. For her and 10 other local patients, she said, local dialysis treatment is a matter of life and death.
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COURTESY OF ANITA HANAKAHI
A Texas-based company, U.S. Renal Care, vowed to keep its clinic open until patients had alternatives, but some of them say that's not happening
Feb 29
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A picture of Rogue Regional Medical Center in 2007. At the time it was known as Rogue Valley Medical Center.
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BY NICKNELSON/ENGLISH WIKIPEDIA VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS.
Before the filing of an $11.5 million suit alleging that fentanyl theft led to a fatal infection, a Medford RN said she did nothing wrong and was cooperating: ‘The truth will, I’m sure, come out.’
Feb 27
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State Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, and former Gov. John Kitzhaber testified in favor a bill limiting private equity and other business interests involvement in health care during a February 26, 2024 hearing of the Oregon Senate Health Committee.
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JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT
The 11-clinic chain’s ownership says financial struggles threaten quality of care, but critics want other options considered, saying the proposal would hurt patients
Feb 26
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St. Charles Health System in Bend.
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COURTESY OF ST. CHARLES HEALTH
After problems led to thousands of Oregonians incorrectly disenrolled, the state has made fixes, restored coverage and will soon resume eligibility checks that were on hold during the pandemic
Feb 22
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State Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, shown at the Oregon State of Reform Health Policy Conference on Nov. 14, 2023 in Portland. Diehl is sponsoring a bill to overhaul the state’s health care professional licensing process. (Left) State. Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, and (right) Rep. Thuy Tran, D-Portland.
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JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT
Legislation intended to provide a short-term fix for staffing shortages has turned into an effort to dig into oft-cited problems in Oregon’s certification agencies
Feb 22
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A pile of flowers and a note eulogizing Bobby Smallwood, a security officer for Legacy Health, sit outside the Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he was killed during a confrontation on July 30, 2023.
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JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT
CareOregon leaders stood to win big, but a review said the public interest would suffer if the nonprofit merged with California-based SCAN Group. Proponents don't agree.
Feb 20
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Lucas Coghill, 9, plays the PAX Good Behavior Game during class at Fern Hill Elementary School in Forest Grove, Ore., Nov. 9, 2023. The game focuses on helping students identify and encourage positive “PAX” behaviors and avoid “spleems” as part of daily classroom management.
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KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/OPB/THE LUND REPORT