Rural Health

State Behavioral Health Director Ebony Clarke said she thinks the state needs to be audacious and bold when it comes to improving care for low-income Oregonians. | SCREENSHOT, OREGON HEALTH FORUM

Oregon behavioral health fissures add costs and block access, panel says

Oregon's notoriously fragmented system spawns administrative tasks and barriers at the expense of patients and providers, according to a panel of experts who spoke Wednesday

Jun 26, 2024
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Emma Sandoe will head the state program providing free health care to 1 in 3 Oregonians. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Updated: Emma Sandoe named as next director of Oregon's Medicaid program

Sandoe hails from North Carolina's program where Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi also had worked for a time. Sandoe will bring a national reputation while heading the $28-billion Oregon Health Plan providing free health care to 1.4 million low-income people.

May 23, 2024
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SAMARITAN PACIFIC COMMUNITIES HOSPITAL IN NEWPORT./VISITOR7/CC BY-SA 3.0/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Former Samaritan Health exec claims state contract violations

Melissa Isavoran claims the regional insurer contracted by the state to oversee care for low-income people fired her for flagging violations, but the health plan declines comment

Mar 14, 2024
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Pictured: the North Albany building of The Corvallis Clinic, P.C. | COURTESY OF THE CORVALLIS CLINIC, P.C.

Optum purchase of Corvallis Clinic dodges state review

To avoid insolvency, the business needs to be bought quickly by UnitedHealth Group without the service guarantees that the state had earlier sought, officials say

Mar 13, 2024
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Pictured: the North Albany building of The Corvallis Clinic, P.C. | COURTESY OF THE CORVALLIS CLINIC, P.C.

Hundreds decry UnitedHealth’s proposed purchase of Corvallis Clinic chain

The 11-clinic chain’s ownership says financial struggles threaten quality of care, but critics want other options considered, saying the proposal would hurt patients

Feb 26, 2024
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Sterling Hanakahi, 73, and Anita Hanakahi, 70, of Tillamook say they were blindsided when Texas-based U.S. Renal Care executives announced they would close their kidney dialysis center in the coastal community Feb. 23. Anita has relied on the center for the past nine years. For her and 10 other local patients, she said, local dialysis treatment is a matter of life and death. | COURTESY OF ANITA HANAKAHI

Company says it will keep Tillamook dialysis clinic open until patients have care

Texas-based firm appears to back off on Feb. 23 closure date that patients called a death sentence

Feb 13, 2024
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Sterling Hanakahi, 73, and Anita Hanakahi, 70, of Tillamook say they were blindsided when Texas-based U.S. Renal Care executives announced they would close their kidney dialysis center in the coastal community Feb. 23. Anita has relied on the center for the past nine years. For her and 10 other local patients, she said, local dialysis treatment is a matter of life and death. | COURTESY OF ANITA HANAKAHI