Jen Kruse and Diane Lund-Muzikant

With their finances looking stronger than ever, the hospitals may realize they need to boost their image, so their trade association has launched a public relations push that’s airing on OPB.

Pharmaceutical companies handed out at least $40.7 million to Oregon physicians and healthcare institutions between 2009 and 2003.Undoubtedly, this figure does not represent all of the money, according to ProPublica because of the voluntary participation.

As people scramble to make the Dec. 15 deadline to sign up for healthcare.gov so they can have coverage starting Jan. 1, it’s become quite apparent that those living in rural counties are having to pay substantially more for their insurance.