Access & Quality

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Bills to permit behavioral health treatment by out-of-state providers were sailing, then hit the rocks Premium

Rep. Ed Diehl said the four bills, intended to address Oregon's critical shortage of behavioral health providers, were pulled by the House Speaker's office at the last minute

Apr 24

An artist's rendering of the new rehabiliation hospital slated for Vancouver, Washington. It will be operated by the nonprofit PeaceHealth and LifePoint, a firm owned by private equity. | PEACEHEALTH

PeaceHealth, Lifepoint announce new rehab hospital in Vancouver

Partnership between Catholic health system and a private equity owned firm has led to another project, following on an earlier one in Springfield, Oregon

Apr 17

MOHAMED HASSAN/PIXABAY

Counselors, therapists want limits on audits by health insurers and the state

Providers say audits are unfairly demanding costly repayment of very old claims — but health insurers say the proposed new rules would be unworkable

Apr 3
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BLOGTREPRENEUR/CC BY 2.0)

Longtime Oregon Health Authority equity director sues state over termination

Leann Johnson has filed a federal lawsuit saying she was ‘scapegoated’ and faced retaliation for raising discrimination concerns and questioning agency leadership

Mar 21
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Tillamook dialysis center delays prompt new legislation

State Rep. Cyrus Javadi says he’s introducing a bill to ensure delays to a new treatment center for kidney patients don’t happen again, saying ‘this is something we need to fix’

Mar 14
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United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. | FRANCINE SRECA/PIXABAY

Massive Medicaid cuts floated in Congress face hurdles

Amid a sea of scenarios that would hurt low-income people and others in Oregon, not much is clear, and specific budget cuts haven’t happened yet

Mar 13
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digital illustration of a spiral bacteria against a green background

Syphilis bacterium. | ILLUSTRATION BY JOMAR JUNIOR/PIXABAY

Oregon faces ‘crisis’ in growing number of babies born with syphilis, officials say

Even as overall syphilis numbers go down in the state, more and more babies are being born with it — particularly in rural areas

Mar 11
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Salem Health-Regence split turns spotlight on insurance company wealth

Power struggles, pressure tactics and public brinksmanship in recent disputes between health insurers and providers — such as hospitals — are all about money. Insurers have it, and providers want more of it.

Mar 4
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The Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council discusses during its July 3, 2024 meeting a new formula for grants that is intended to set a funding floor for rural counties. | SCREENSHOT