Behavioral Health

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Mathew Padrow (left), Denise Darby (center) and Hunter Graham (right) testify in support of changes to Oregon's civil commitment law to the Oregon House Judiciary Committee on April 3, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Coalition's push to change Oregon’s civil commitment law faces opposition

Kotek-backed bill has support from hospitals and law enforcement and the medical community, while behavioral health advocates are split

Apr 8
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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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PeaceHealth, Vancouver - Medical Center Physician's Building. | COURTESY PEACEHEALTH

Major Vancouver mental health provider furloughs 112 workers, will continue methadone treatment

Officials are scrambling to respond after Columbia River Mental Health Services, a mainstay of Clark County's behavioral health system, issued a surprise announcement of clinic closures and a financial crisis Monday. A leader says methadone treatment will continue to prevent sudden withdrawal for 800 clients.

Mar 26
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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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Clockwise from front left: Sophomores Madison Cailteux, Kaden Davis Young, Samuel Stanley, Jack Von Ammon and Pearl Carter participate in cooperative learning during science class at South Eugene High School on Dec. 11, 2023. | EMILY GREEN/THE LUND REPORT

Trio of bills aims to address Oregon's failure to equip kids with needed tools against drugs

Young Oregonians experience more substance use disorder and fatal overdoses than their counterparts in almost any other state. Officials haven't enforced the law requiring kids get science-based prevention tools, but advocates and lawmakers hope to steer a new course.

Mar 11
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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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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

Lawmakers want to change how Measure 110 funds are spent

Local officials don't like spending decisions made by a volunteer oversight council

Feb 26
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A reporter receives the five-needle protocol, an acupuncture method that has seen renewed interest for purportedly reducing cravings and helping people in recovery. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon lawmakers look to acupuncture to ease addiction crisis

Research into the “five-needle protocol” is inconclusive, but backers say it provides a low-cost way to help people struggling with addiction, especially in marginalized communities.

Feb 18
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Oregon faces backlash over push to block Medicaid payments to unaffiliated, uncertified behavioral health providers

Providers and groups say a new rule will worsen inequities and the state’s behavioral health crisis

Feb 4
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Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield blasted the Trump administration on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 after federal funding portals shut down in the wake of a new White House order.

Kotek, Rayfield blast Trump over shutdown of Medicaid funding

As lawmakers take up an optimistic budget proposed by Kotek, the unexplained abrupt shutdown of federal reimbursements to a variety of safety net programs is sparking a backlash across the country

Jan 28