Jake Thomas

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon hospitals house mentally ill for long periods, dashboard shows

New state website supports longstanding complaints that hospitals have become a stopgap for holes in the Oregon mental health system

Apr 24
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SABINE VAN ERP/PIXABAY

Providence's push to hand off hospice, home care in Oregon to Tennessee firm gets closer look

State health officials plan a six-month analysis to examine the proposed deal with Compassus, which is partly owned by private equity. The transaction has sparked concerns from nurses and home health providers.

Apr 22
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State Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Washington County, testifies during House Judiciary Committee hearing in April 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon senator pushes ‘equal pay for equal care’ for primary care clinics

Reynolds bill would increase clinic reimbursements to equal those paid to hospitals for the same care, but health insurers oppose it.

Apr 17
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A courtroom at Multnomah County Circuit Court. | PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PORTLAND TRIBUNE/JONATHAN HOUSE (USED WITH PERMISSION)

Patient’s murder of Haley Rogers leads to verdict of guilty except for insanity

Her death at a Gresham care home two years ago sparked changes for Cascadia Health and spurred legislation in Salem

Apr 10
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Mathew Padrow (left), Denise Darby (center) and Hunter Graham (right) testify in support of changes to Oregon's civil commitment law to the Oregon House Judiciary Committee on April 3, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Coalition's push to change Oregon’s civil commitment law faces opposition

Kotek-backed bill has support from hospitals and law enforcement and the medical community, while behavioral health advocates are split

Apr 8
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New Trump cut affects Astoria hospital tsunami project

A new round of federal cuts has local officials scrambling to assess the future of a community “refuge” expansion under way at Columbia Memorial Hospital

Apr 8
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Counselors, therapists want limits on audits by health insurers and the state

Providers say audits are unfairly demanding costly repayment of very old claims — but health insurers say the proposed new rules would be unworkable

Apr 3
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Rep. Rob Nosse (pictured upper right) says outside advice would help lawmakers and the public when bills are proposed to require insurance companies to cover a specific treatment, device or procedure. Such bills balance complicated questions of cost and and access. | OREGON HEALTH FORUM

Bill to help lawmakers mull health insurance decisions is back

For the third session in a row, lawmakers have the opportunity to address what Rep. Rob Nosse calls a ‘lousy’ process when it comes to bills to mandate health coverage

Apr 1
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State Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, during a Senate Health Care Committee hearing. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon won’t set price caps on prescription drugs — for now

Citing a desire for consensus and to see how things go elsewhere, State Sen. Deb Patterson has dropped plans this session to follow the lead of some other states and authorize caps on excessive pharmaceutical prices charged to insurers and government payers

Mar 27
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