Rural Health

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Kathie Hightower in her home in Nehalem. When her husband was dying of a rare form of cancer, community support helped her get through the challenges. She's one of a group of volunteers training to do end-of-life caregiving in Oregon's rural coastal communities. | RACHEL MILLER-HOWARD/THE LUND REPORT

As rural Oregon ages, communities turn to volunteers for death care

People in Tillamook County are trying to elevate their communities’ awareness of death and dying

Jun 11
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FIZKES/SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon gets federal boost to help stabilize maternity care in rural areas

With federal approval and matching funds, the state will begin distributing millions in one-time money to prevent future closures in communities short on services

May 28
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Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford in June, 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Asante seeks to dodge state review of surgery center purchase

Leadership of the Asante hospital system is seeking to use a loophole in the state merger approval process to avoid answering state officials’ questions about how a proposed deal would affect costs

Apr 28
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PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHWESTERN OREGON LOCATED IN EUGENE./SHUTTERSTOCK

State House passes multi-million dollar bill to fund Planned Parenthood

House Bill 4127 aims to fill the funding gap created by a congressional ban on federal funds for the organization and adds to millions approved last year

Mar 4
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Asante Ashland Community Hospital in Ashland, Ore. | ERIK NEUMANN/JPR

Asante faces criticism as it shutters maternity and inpatient services in Ashland

The financially successful nonprofit hospital system hasn’t been answering the community’s questions, says state Rep. Pam Marsh. Public records show hospital leaders considered ‘other options’ late last year before deciding on closure.

Jan 15

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FERNANDO ZHIMINAICELA/PIXABAY

Oregon awarded $197 million for rural health, hospitals

Oregon fares well in first year of federal program intended to fend off criticisms of Congressional health care cuts

Dec 29, 2025
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Adventist Health-Columbia Gorge hospital in The Dalles, when it was still known as Mid-Columbia Medical Center. | BILL BEERS | WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Hospital in The Dalles clears hurdle in bid to cut beds, boost revenue

The state’s merger review office has approved the first stage of Adventist Health’s bid to convert its Columbia Gorge facility to tap a relatively lucrative federal program

Nov 10, 2025
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Rural Clackamas County in Oregon. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon seeks $1 billion for rural health

State health officials are competing with other states for a share of $50 billion in federal rural health funds

Nov 6, 2025
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A Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. | LYNNE TERRY/THE LUND REPORT

Drug industry sues Oregon — again — over discounted drug law

Drugmakers say the state has no business adding new conditions to a federal program that they are pushing to scale back, but advocates say the industry’s push will hurt access to important medications

Sep 29, 2025
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