The Lund Report | Oregon's most vital source of health news

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Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler at the Oregon Health Forum./Jurcys Photography

Health Officials, Advocates Urge Portland Mayor To Address Homeless Crisis

Oregon Health Forum attendees urged Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler to immediately address public health crises such as hygiene, public defecation and exposure at a Thursday breakfast forum.

Community members, advocates and caregivers for the homeless urged Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler to address the homeless population’s immediate need for hygiene services such as showers and porta potties in order to prevent a public health crisis.

By: Jessica Floum

Nov 15 2018

Oregon state Capitol by Oregon Legislature.jpg

Courtesy of Oregon Legislature

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Oregon Lawmakers Tackle Plan For Statewide Health Care

The task is ambitious and a work is in progress, with a report due at the end of November.

The Oregon Legislature launched a panel 10 months ago to develop a roadmap for affordable statewide universal health care. The task was ambitious. Similar efforts in other states have gotten nowhere, and there is scant support at the federal level for expanding Medicaid.

By: Christian Wihtol

Nov 8 2018

The Latest Briefs

Read the latest briefs on health issues, the industry, staffing, medicine and consumer concerns.

Briefly: Linfield College Pays $14.5 Million For New Home For Nursing Program

By: Lynne Terry

Jul 18 2018

More Than 1,000 Oregonians’ Information Stolen In Health-Care Data Breach

Attackers hacked into a tool used by insurance agents and brokers to sign people up for coverage.

A data breach of a tool used to enroll people in health care plans exposed the personal information of at least 1,094 Oregonians.

By: Jessica Floum

Nov 13 2018

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Fish Oil, Vitamin D Don't Prevent Cancer, Serious Heart Troubles

A clinical trial involving nearly 26,000 people showed these widely taken supplements don't affect rates of cancer diagnosis or serious heart issues but do appear to stem heart attacks and cancer deaths.

A widely anticipated study has concluded that neither vitamin D nor fish oil supplements prevent cancer or serious heart-related problems in healthy older people, according to research presented Saturday at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

By: Liz Szabo

Nov 12 2018

Multnomah Jails Report Shows Most Inmates Need Treatment Services

A grand jury looking into conditions at Multnomah County’s jails found the majority of inmates have either mental health or substance abuse issues.

By: Kristian Foden-Vencil

Nov 9 2018

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Departing Oregon Health Policy Board Member 'Shocked' At Response To Health Equity

Felisa Hagins says the state has failed to ensure that Oregon’s coordinated care organizations have the financial incentive next year to improve access to care for diverse populations.

A longtime member of the board that advises the state on health policy and reform questioned the state’s commitment to ensuring equitable health care to low-income Oregonians.

By: Jessica Floum

Nov 7 2018

Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives/Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0

House Dems In New Seats Of Power Will Steer Health Policy, Attack Drug Prices

But Republicans’ tightened grip on the Senate means those hoping for another round of dramatic, progressive reforms may be disappointed.

For the first time since passing the Affordable Care Act, Democrats will soon control the House of Representatives and its powerful health committees. But Republicans’ tightened grip on the Senate means those hoping for another round of dramatic, progressive reforms may be disappointed.

By: Emmarie Huetteman

Nov 8 2018

Oregon State University

Researchers Identify Factors Behind Cases of Small-Intestine inflammation

Oregon State University scientists looked at factors linked to cases of common variable immunodeficiency, which afflicts thousands of people worldwide and often prevents them from absorbing nutrients.

Oregon State University researchers have discovered two key factors behind the intestinal inflammation that plagues people suffering from a disorder that affects their immune system.

By: Steve Lundeberg

Nov 14 2018

The Lund Report Launches Challenge Grant

Generous donors have contributed $40,000 toward a challenge grant. Please help us match that.

The Lund Report has big plans for hard-driving, in-depth reporting on the health-care industry and its major players -- from hospitals and insurance companies to the Oregon Health Authority, Legislature and pharmaceutical industry.

By: Lynne Terry

Oct 27 2018

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Oregon Supports Abortion Rights While Other States Endorse Restrictions

Oregon voters trounced an anti-abortion measure, unlike voters in Alabama and West Virginia or in Indiana, North Dakota and Missouri where anti-abortion Republican senators won seats held by Democrats.

Oregonians trounced a ballot measure that would have banned public funding of abortions, marking the fourth time that the state has endorsed abortion rights at the polls.

By: Lynne Terry

Nov 6 2018

US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Moda Will Take Its Case To U.S. Supreme Court

A federal appeals court rejected Moda's request on Tuesday to rehear its petition for millions in payments from the federal government over losses under the Affordable Care Act, but the case is not closed.

A federal court has rejected a request from Moda Health to consider its appeal in a case involving millions in federal funds that’s been bouncing around the courts for two years.

By: Lynne Terry

Nov 7 2018

Unity Center for Behavioral Health Keeps Federal Certification

Federal officials told The Lund Report they will continue to fund Portland’s psychiatric crisis center after patient deaths and safety hazards sparked a months-long investigation and whistleblower complaint.

The Unity Center for Behavioral Health will not lose its federal certification and funding, federal officials said Thursday, one day after the center’s deadline to meet safety standards.

By: Jessica Floum

Nov 1 2018

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State Asks For $2.7 Million To Expand Oregon State Hospital Capacity

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said the state needs to accommodate the number of accused criminals who need treatment before being tried.

Oregon State Hospital facilities are so crowded that state health officials have asked for $2.7 million in emergency funds to accommodate all of the patients they need to treat.

By: Jessica Floum

Oct 31 2018

Opinion: Re-think Community To Address Social Determinants Of Health

If we want healthier communities that spend less on medical care, we need more effective community-based management and intervention, and better communication between the social services and medical communities.

In recent years, social determinants of health have become central to conversations about health-care delivery, and with good reason: medically complex patients and those with unmet behavioral and social needs consume a disproportionate amount of time and money in the health-care system.

By: Michael Rohwer

Nov 6 2018

Collaboration Aims To Help Mentally Ill Caught In Criminal Justice System

A group of Oregon health officials, law enforcement and legislators discussed Wednesday how to provide supportive services for people with mental health issues to keep them from being locked up.

Oregon state officials held the first steering committee meeting Wednesday to improve how the state’s criminal justice and behavioral health systems treat people experiencing a mental health crisis.

By: Jessica Floum

Oct 31 2018

Creative Commons/Source

Patients Could Face Tough Health Insurance Choices During Open Enrollment

Open enrollment starts Thursday, and health insurance agents are urging patients to check their policies and whether they qualify for health insurance discounts because costs and coverage could change.

With the window for people to buy their own health insurance openingThursday, insurance agents are urging patients to review their insurance plans for potential changes and opportunities for discounts.

By: Jessica Floum

Oct 30 2018

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Heart Drug Spotlights Troubling Trends In Drug Marketing

A company is marketing a drug intended as a preventive for people at risk for heart disease with stunning statistics but has not yet released details of its study.

At the end of September, Amarin Corp. teased some early findings for Vascepa, its preventive medicine for people at risk of heart disease. The claim was astounding: a 25 percent relative risk reduction for deaths related to heart attacks, strokes and other conditions.

By: Shefali Luthra

Nov 2 2018

PeaceHealth

Car Accident Victim Sues PeaceHealth For ‘Secretly’ Overbilling

The suit claims the hospital chain should not have billed an Oregon man for nearly $15,000 to pay for treatment after an accident and then taken his money.

An Oregon man is suing PeaceHealth over the cost of medical treatment from a car accident.

By: Lynne Terry

Oct 31 2018

Jon Bartholomew of AARP, health policy analyst Jane Horvath, health insurance consultant Terrance Killilea and Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward discussed drug pricing at an Oregon Health Policy Forum./Edis Jurcys Photography

Oregon Health Experts Call For Transparency, Competition, State Action On Drug Pricing

Oregon legislators, health policy analysts and industry experts discussed the barriers to affordable drugs at an Oregon Health Forum breakfast meeting in Portland on Tuesday.

Oregon health experts called for greater drug pricing transparency, increased competition from foreign drug markets and better data to keep down pharmaceutical costs at an Oregon Health Forum breakfast on Tuesday.

By: Jessica Floum

Oct 23 2018

Press Releases

Read the latest press releases from organizations around the state.

Press Release: Portland Law Firm Named Age-Friendly Business

By: Lynne Terry

Sep 25 2018

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