State Health Policy

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OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital has a level 1 pediatric trauma center. | OHSU/CHRISTINE TORRES HICKS

Advisory board’s surprise vote against OHSU’s takeover of Legacy is not final

A community review board’s unexpected 5-0 vote to recommend the state block OHSU’s purchase of Legacy will be considered by program staff, but is not binding

Apr 8
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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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Rep. Rob Nosse (pictured upper right) says outside advice would help lawmakers and the public when bills are proposed to require insurance companies to cover a specific treatment, device or procedure. Such bills balance complicated questions of cost and and access. | OREGON HEALTH FORUM

Bill to help lawmakers mull health insurance decisions is back

For the third session in a row, lawmakers have the opportunity to address what Rep. Rob Nosse calls a ‘lousy’ process when it comes to bills to mandate health coverage

Apr 1
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A COVID-19 VACCINE IS ADMINISTERED AT THE DESCHUTES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN BEND, JANUARY 2021./BRADLEY W. PARKS/OPB

Oregon joins federal suit to block sudden cancellation of $11.4 billion in health grants

The Trump administration cuts would deliver a $117 million hit to Oregon programs set up to combat disease and drug addiction

Apr 1

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A hallway in OHSU's main campus in Portland in September 2024 | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

State review of OHSU takeover of Legacy Health nears recommendation

A review board on Monday will consider whether to recommend state approval of the proposed merger between Oregon Health & Science University and Legacy Health. Critics say the newly dominant health care powerhouse in greater Portland would inevitably jack up costs, but supporters say it would help care.

Mar 28
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State Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, during a Senate Health Care Committee hearing. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon won’t set price caps on prescription drugs — for now

Citing a desire for consensus and to see how things go elsewhere, State Sen. Deb Patterson has dropped plans this session to follow the lead of some other states and authorize caps on excessive pharmaceutical prices charged to insurers and government payers

Mar 27
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ONDŘEJ P. VANĚČEK IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Oregon Death With Dignity prescriptions grew last year as reported deaths declined

Critics feared an increase in ‘death tourism’ after the state dropped its residency requirement, but slightly fewer non-Oregonians used the law to end their lives in 2024.

Mar 27
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Oregon GOP House lawmakers described their priorities for the 2025 legislative session at a press event in February. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon GOP lawmakers request federal investigation of Medicaid, gender care

Seven House members want to help Trump administration in federal litigation over gender-affirming care for minors. The Trump push has sparked alarm for civil rights advocates who say it threatens care that can be life-saving.

Mar 26
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BLOGTREPRENEUR/CC BY 2.0)

Longtime Oregon Health Authority equity director sues state over termination

Leann Johnson has filed a federal lawsuit saying she was ‘scapegoated’ and faced retaliation for raising discrimination concerns and questioning agency leadership

Mar 21
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