Behavioral Health

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon hospitals house mentally ill for long periods, dashboard shows

New state website supports longstanding complaints that hospitals have become a stopgap for holes in the Oregon mental health system

Apr 24
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SHUTTERSTOCK

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

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
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Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, on Nov. 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Another patient’s death, another new leader add to turmoil at Oregon State Hospital

Kotek gives Dave Baden 30 days to issue a public plan to ease concerns, but one lawyer says Oregonians deserve more information and a lasting fix for the psychiatric facility

Apr 15
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A courtroom at Multnomah County Circuit Court. | PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PORTLAND TRIBUNE/JONATHAN HOUSE (USED WITH PERMISSION)

Patient’s murder of Haley Rogers leads to verdict of guilty except for insanity

Her death at a Gresham care home two years ago sparked changes for Cascadia Health and spurred legislation in Salem

Apr 10
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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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