Nick Budnick

Gov. Tina Kotek speaks at the signing of the health care staffing bill on Aug. 15, 2023 at the Capitol in Salem, Ore. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon care organizations invest $25 million in youth behavioral health

New spending on projects around the state resulted from pressure from Gov. Kotek after large profits garnered during the pandemic drew attention

Jan 4, 2024
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Portland, Oregon. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Even without a pandemic, health care was wild in 2023

It was a year in which the health care community had hoped to recuperate. Instead, Oregon and southwest Washington saw major changes affecting workers, patients, insurers, state officials and health systems.

Dec 21, 2023

LYNNE TERRY/THE LUND REPORT

Legacy Health employees are unionizing at blinding speed

More groups of employees across the eight-hospital system are moving to join unions even as their management talks to OHSU about potentially being absorbed

Dec 12, 2023
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A patient room at the OHSU Center for Women's Health | COURTESY OF OHSU

OHSU privatizing fertility services as San Francisco company opens clinic in Portland

OHSU will lay off some employees and 'lease’ physicians to Spring Fertility when the private equity—backed firm opens a new facility in Northwest Portland, potentially meaning a smaller waitlist for would-be parents

Dec 12, 2023
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GERD ALTMANN/PIXABAY

Tripledemic's sequel likely won’t be as bad for Oregon, expert says

New waves of COVID, RSV and the flu are headed this way, but a top expert forecasts less of an impact on most Oregonians and the state’s hospitals compared to 12 months ago

Dec 7, 2023
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PIXABAY

The state’s climate benefit for low-income Oregonians is shrinking

State officials failed to persuade the federal government to embrace changes to an agreement around a climate-related devices such as air conditioners, and now are planning a scaled-down program for March

Nov 30, 2023
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JOZEF MICIC/SHUTTERSTOCK

CareOregon urges Kotek to speed up merger review

The Oregon Health Plan provider, which would send $120 million to a merged California nonprofit under the deal, wants the state to wrap up a process nearing the 12-month mark — even as opposition mounts

Nov 28, 2023
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PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington, on Aug. 7, 2013. | RYTYHO USA/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

PeaceHealth to refund millions to low-income patients in Washington, but not Oregon

The health system settled a state investigation of its five Washington hospitals that found unlawful billing of thousands of patients it knew qualified for charity care

Nov 21, 2023
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COURTESY PHOTO

Key Multnomah County mental health diversion unit ‘in shambles’

The nationally acclaimed program is foundering amid a tripled workload, fear of violence and staff departures

Nov 14, 2023

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in southwest Portland. | M.O. STEVENS/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

State's billing probe of Providence Health continues

Oregon Department of Justice investigation of alleged improper billing of low-income people remains open 13 months later

Nov 9, 2023
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