Ben Botkin

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13 Oregon Counties Improve Their COVID-19 Risk Ranking

Mar 9, 2021

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PFC Juan Carlos Rojas administers COVID-19 vaccine to licensed massage therapist with Serenity Hospice Jason Mayberry at the state fairgrounds in Salem. | ABIGAIL DOLLINS/SALEM STATESMAN JOURNAL

Oregon Lets Low-Income Health Centers Vaccinate Anyone

Seven federally qualified health centers can administer vaccines to patients even if they're not eligible to get vulnerable communities vaccinated sooner.

Mar 9, 2021
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Gov. Kate Brown | BRADLEY PARKS/OPB

Governor Orders Oregon Schools To Start In-Person Reopening In Late March

The directive will require every public K-12 school to offer at least some in-person instruction.

Mar 5, 2021

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Health Leaders Seek More Flexibility On Medicaid Spending

The state wants its next five-year Medicaid plan, that has to be approved by federal authorities, to allow for spending on housing, for example.

Mar 5, 2021
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Considers Using Medicaid Money On Housing, Other Non-Medical Work  

Oregon officials are drafting the state's next five-year Medicaid plan for review and approval by federal authorities who control the purse strings.

Mar 5, 2021
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PIXABAY

Oregon Bill Would Boost Market Access To Generic Prescription Drugs 

Senate Bill 764 would prevent "pay to delay" agreements between pharmaceutical companies that delay the introduction of generic prescription drugs into the market.

Mar 3, 2021
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Allocates Initial 34,000 Doses of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine 

The vaccine, which needs only one shot, will be used for providers visiting jails and adult foster homes with small numbers of residents who have not yet been vaccinated.

Mar 3, 2021

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Naturopathic Physicians Seek Same Reimbursement Rates As Other Physicians

House Bill 2673 would provide parity for naturopaths but the medical establishment is opposed, saying it would drive up health care costs.

Mar 2, 2021
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The University of Washington is vaccinating frontline health care staff against COVID-19. | COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Front-Line Grocery Workers Lobby To Move Forward In Vaccination Line

Reluctant to wait until May for vaccinations, retail workers say their jobs are dangerous, in part because customers ignore masking and other rules.

Mar 1, 2021
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Four Portland-area hospital system are running the Oregon Convention Center site while Salem Health is in charge of the fairgrounds in Salem. | OHSU

Oregon's New COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Makes Everyone Eligible By July 1 

The state also switched to a lottery sign-up system in the Portland area after 400,000 people tried to sign up for about 3,500 spots on Thursday.

Feb 26, 2021