Jake Thomas

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Klamath Falls, Oregon. | BOBJGALINDO/CC BY-SA 4.0/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lawsuit seeks $2 million over allegedly illegal hospital debt collection practices

The suit against Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls comes despite recent protections in Oregon to ensure poor patients access charity care

Nov 28
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PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield. | COURTESY OF PEACEHEALTH

New discrimination suit filed against PeaceHealth Riverbend

A nurse filed a lawsuit alleging age and disability discrimination, and claiming management suggested she was faking her injury

Nov 28
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Stabbin’ Wagon holds regular outreach events at Medford’s Hawthorne Park, which has seen issues with drug use and camping among unsheltered people. Melissa Jones, the group’s leader, was arrested at the park during sweeps of homeless encampments in 2020. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Despite criticisms, Stabbin’ Wagon signs contract with health authority

The Medford nonprofit will provide a new, non-clinical mental health service even after clashing with local officials. The status of other contracts remains uncertain.

Nov 21
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Clockwise, from left to right: Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran, moderator and Portland Axios reporter Emily Harris, Providence Health Chief Executive of Behavioral Health Robin Henderson, Portland Street Response Interim Program Manager Lielah Leighton, Jonathan Mroz of Central City Concern, Multnomah Circuit Judge Nan Waller discussed promising approaches to improve behavioral health care in Portland. | SCREENSHOT, OREGON HEALTH FORUM

Decisive action could help Portland's dysfunctional behavioral health system, experts say

An Oregon Health Forum panel agreed that action and urgency could significantly improve care for people experiencing mental health crisis and addiction in Oregon's largest city

Nov 16

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Oregon legislators discuss upcoming changes to Measure 110 at the Oregon State of Reform conference in Portland on Nov. 14, 2023. From left to right: Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland; Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Stayton; and Rep. Thuy Tran, D-Portland. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon lawmakers preview possible fixes to Measure 110 in upcoming session

Public drug use and prosecution of drug dealers could be on the table, as well as reinstating criminal penalties and scrapping a controversial oversight council

Nov 14
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Protest signs were placed by the Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center's entrance during a vigil for the birth center's closure on March 17, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Women’s health workers at Legacy push for union

Citing the attempted closure of the Mount Hood birth center and other developments, about 60 nurses and other health professionals are the latest to organize at the health system

Nov 10
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STEFAN SCHWEIHOFER/PIXABAY

Oregon residential care facilities say a new law is making them look bad

The number of facilities in Oregon with red flags on their license has tripled in the last two years, but lobbyists say they are technical violations

Nov 9
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Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Judge’s psychiatric discharge deadlines spawned ‘legal limbo,’ service gaps, locals say

Efforts to fix a bottleneck at Oregon State Hospital have increased problems elsewhere, local officials told lawmakers Wednesday

Nov 8
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Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center's Century High School clinic in in Hillsboro, Oregon. | ©PORTLAND TRIBUNE, REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION

Oregon lawmakers to push for in-school medical center funding

With mental health issues among adolescents on the rise, advocates say school-based health centers need more funding

Nov 7
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