Nick Budnick

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MOHAMED HASSAN/PIXABAY

Oregon health officials’ effort to dodge a federal contempt order hurts people experiencing mental illness, critics say

Advocates are concerned that a new Oregon Health Authority rule will substitute one civil rights violation for another by reserving community-based residential treatment for criminal defendants experiencing mental illness at the expense of others also in need

Mar 18

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Price-fixing claims multiply against Regence BlueCross BlueShield, other Blues insurers

The Blues say the allegations are baseless, but suits against them are mounting — with Regence hit with 10 federal suits in 48 hours — as a national $2.8 billion settlement splinters

Mar 6
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James Schroeder is taking over as CEO of Cascadia Health. | COURTESY OF CASCADIA HEALTH

Cascadia Health names James Schroeder to lead it as longtime CEO Derald Walker retires

With Walker hanging it up after 17 years, Schroeder will move from being his deputy to taking the top job at the nonprofit behavioral health provider. He previously worked as CEO of Health Share of Oregon and as interim director of the Oregon Health Authority.

Mar 5
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Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. | COURTESY BAY AREA HOSPITAL.

Union wants to keep Coos Bay hospital in public hands

With a Tennessee-based firm poised to take over operation of Bay Area Hospital, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 says a few changes and a temporary loan are what's needed to get the facility breaking even again

Feb 27
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Sejal Hathi, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, has taken a part-time job seeing patients at Stanford University's teaching hospital in California. Hathi said she misses seeing patients, will work a weekend a month and is trying to restructure the position so she receives no pay. | STATE OF OREGON

Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi defends outside job at legislative hearing

Critics say her $265,000-a-year-job is 24-7, but Hathi told lawmakers her side job won't be a distraction from Oregon's largest state agency. She plans to work a shift or two a month at Stanford University's teaching hospital .

Feb 20
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Sejal Hathi, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, has taken a part-time job seeing patients at Stanford University's teaching hospital in California. Hathi said she misses seeing patients, will work a weekend a month and is trying to restructure the position so she receives no pay. | STATE OF OREGON

Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi has taken a side job in California

Stanford University is touting its hire of Hathi, a prominent state official and a physician, to see patients at its teaching hospital. It's a paid position, but Hathi said she is talking to the university about how to avoid receiving compensation.

Feb 19
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Picket line near Providence St. Vincent Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

More than 4,000 striking Providence nurses will lose health coverage on March 1

Oregon's largest hospital system cited the length of the strike in a notice to nurses who've walked out from eight hospitals. The union accused Providence of delaying after members voted down a tentative deal.

Feb 13

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Dr. Jane Zhu of Oregon Health & Science University examined billings for gastroenterology care before and after practices are acquired finding a boost in costs. | COURTESY OF OHSU/CHRISTINE TORRES HICKS

Study: Private equity takeovers boost billings, fees

A new study co-authored by OHSU researcher Jane Zhu drilled down on the bills issued by gastroenterologists after private equity buys their practices, finding a 78% jump in professional fees for colonoscopies and other care

Feb 11
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Picket line near Providence St. Vincent Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Providence nurses could reject the deals intended to end their 28-day strike

Many nurses are going public to say the negotiated tentative agreements seeking to end Oregon's largest-ever health care walkout don't go far enough. They are voting today.

Feb 6
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PIXABAY

Consultant vows to ‘zero in’ on Oregon prison care denials in wake of blistering report

A consultant hired by Oregon prison officials to look into a scathing outside review said his firm will operate with transparency and objectivity. An attorney specializing in representing people denied care said a pattern of outrageous decisions in recent years calls for a more in-depth review.

Feb 4
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