Money Flow

Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey (left) and Majority Leader Ben Bowman during a press availability in January 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Bill aimed at barring corporate meddling in patients' medical care passes Legislature

Senate Bill 951, an earlier version of which failed last year in the Oregon Senate, won some Republican support in both the House and the Senate, and is on its way for Gov. Tina Kotek's signature

May 28, 2025
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Rock formations at Bandon Beach in Southern Oregon. | LISA MCKELLY/PIXABAY

Doctor urges community to engage with troubled Bandon safety net clinic

Dr. Hank Holmes won a $418,000 settlement from Coast Community Health Center. Now, he says, the community needs to help ensure its success as outside management prepares to move in.

May 27, 2025
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LUND REPORT ILLUSTRATION/SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon health care costs spawn new committees, members needed

Two new state committees are being formed to look at reining in health care costs, and health officials seek applicants

May 13, 2025

Smiling members of the Young People in Recovery

Young People in Recovery is a national nonprofit focused on addiction recovery. Six of its Kentucky chapters have been affected by federal funding cuts, leading them to curtail community events including cleanup days, in which chapter members gather used syringes off the street, pass out the overdose reversal medication naloxone, and talk to people using drugs about the possibility of recovery. | BILLY O'BRYAN / VIA KFF

Moms in crisis, jobs lost: The human cost of Trump’s addiction funding cuts

Mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S.

Apr 29, 2025

State Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Washington County, testifies during House Judiciary Committee hearing in April 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon senator pushes ‘equal pay for equal care’ for primary care clinics

Reynolds bill would increase clinic reimbursements to equal those paid to hospitals for the same care, but health insurers oppose it.

Apr 17, 2025

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, 2025
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A FLU VACCINATION BEING GIVEN./PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PORTLAND TRIBUNE (USED WITH PERMISSION)

Oregon public health programs hit with $117 million in surprise federal cuts

Trump administration's abrupt halt to grants worth $12 billion around the country has state and local agencies contemplating layoffs and cuts to programs combatting diseases such as tuberculous, mpox and the flu

Mar 27, 2025

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

State wants hospitals to pay more to support the program investigating them

Oregon health officials are asking lawmakers to support a bill that would increase hospital licensing fees by a factor of five to improve outreach and oversight. They'd still be less than in Washington state, but hospital officials say the move would further burden struggling facilities.

Mar 18, 2025
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Price-fixing claims multiply against Regence BlueCross BlueShield, other Blues insurers

The Blues say the allegations are baseless, but suits against them are mounting — with Regence hit with 10 federal suits in 48 hours — as a national $2.8 billion settlement splinters

Mar 6, 2025
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SHUTTERSTOCK

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, 2025
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