Rachel Monahan

Oregon Physicians Who Charged Medicare Highest Rates

This article is for premium subscribers. Please sign up here for a tax-deductible subscription.

If you're a premium subscriber, sign in below.

Providers say the billing system is rigged against providing quality care.

This doctor still makes house calls -- and when he sees patients in the office he never bills insurance if it’s less than an hour.

So, yes, Dr. Richard MacDonell billed Medicare at the most expensive rate for every single one of his office visits in 2012.

By:

Rachel Monahan

Douglas County to Start Mental Health Court

Joining 12 Oregon counties and two cities, the mental health court will try to find the right health services and reduce recidivism.

Beginning this month, Douglas County will join at least 12 other Oregon counties and two cities in establishing a mental health court to divert the mentally ill away from jail and into needed healthcare services.

By:

Rachel Monahan

Medicare Data Released This Spring Show the Elite Oregon Doctors Who Always Bill Top Dollar

This article is for premium subscribers. Please sign up here for a tax-deductible subscription.

If you're a premium subscriber, sign in below.

Oregon Health & Science University has most of the state’s doctors who billed Medicare for the most expensive visits all of the time.

For the first time this spring, Medicare released spending data for individual doctors and other healthcare providers, and an analysis by the nonprofit news outlet ProPublica examined doctors who were billing Medicare for the most complicated and therefore most expen

By:

Rachel Monahan

Vernonia Clinic Appeals to Oregon’s Congressional Delegation to Change Federal Grant Requirements

The clinic is designated as rural by Medicare but unable to qualify for a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration because it’s not considered to be in a remote area.

It's more than 30 miles to the closest hospital. There’s no public transportation.

The Vernonia Health Center has even officially been designated a rural clinic by Medicare.

By:

Rachel Monahan

Douglas County Quits Mental Health Services

Joining the majority of Oregon counties, Douglas County in handing over responsibility to a nonprofit

Douglas County is getting out of the business of providing mental healthcare -- joining the majority of Oregon counties where private nonprofits are in charge.

By:

Rachel Monahan

Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Workers Fight for Equal Pay for Equal Work

After joining SEIU Local 49 in the fall, 120 workers are bargaining first contract with Samaritan Health Services.

In Lincoln City, Samaritan hospital workers want equal pay for equal work.

At the three other Samaritan Health Services hospitals, some workers earn over 10% more than their Samaritan North Lincoln peers, according to labor union officials. That doesn’t even include benefits.

By:

Rachel Monahan

Forgot your password?

Forgot your password?