State Health Policy

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The Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council discusses during its July 3, 2024 meeting a new formula for grants that is intended to set a funding floor for rural counties. | SCREENSHOT

Measure 110 spending plan means Portland area will lag despite size, diversity

New rules to help rural counties mean the Portland region will receive an estimated $13 million a year in recovery services less than what its population calls for, showing challenges in funding for recovery services

Jul 9, 2024
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Oregon Health Authority Sejal Hathi addressed agency employees in a video on her first day, Jan. 16, 2024 | SCREENSHOT FROM OHA VIDEO

New records show relations soured before Oregon Health Authority equity director’s firing

Leann Johnson criticized top agency leaders and filed formal complaints against them claiming discrimination and retaliation. In firing her, Director Sejal Hathi cited a backlog of unresolved civil rights complaints that equity managers attributed to understaffing

Jul 2, 2024

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The Oregon Health Authority in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

New free health care program to cover about 100,000 Oregonians

New ‘OHP Bridge’ state coverage will cover people who earn too much to qualify for the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan starting July 1

Jul 1, 2024
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SHUTTERSTOCK

State needs to spend $850 million on behavioral health beds over five years, report says

Inpatient psychiatric care gaps fuel racial and geographic disparities, according to an OHA-contracted study

Jul 1, 2024

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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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The Oregon Health Authority's headquarters in Salem in November, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Firing of Oregon Health Authority diversity chief sparks backlash

Not even six months on the job, agency director Sejal Hathi is grappling with questions and dissension after the unexplained firing of the agency’s strongest voice on equity issues, Leann Johnson

Jun 25, 2024

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The Oregon Health Authority headquarters in Salem | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon Health Authority equity director fired

Leann Johnson was terminated after more than decade working at the state, including eight years as head of a division charged with overseeing internal workplace complaints

Jun 21, 2024
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Nurses and other health care workers along with their supporters took to the picket lines outside Providence Portland Medical Center in June 2023 as the state’s largest nurses union called a five-day strike. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Updated: Providence, nurses union trade barbs as strike launches at six hospitals

As largest-ever Oregon hospital strike begins, the hospital system says the union endangers patients by trying to cut off access to supplies and temporary workers; union calls complaint ironic

Jun 14, 2024
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Multnomah County worked to vaccinate people of color and people experiencing homelessness. | MOTOYA NAKAMURA/MULTNOMAH COUNTY

Oregon interpreter rules hurt health care access, group says

The group of medical directors representing organizations that oversee care to 1.3 million Oregonians say state rules are hurting access to crucial medical interpreter services and fueling health care inequities

Jun 13, 2024
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The Oregon Health Authority headquarters in Salem | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

State not recovering costs for new Oregon merger reviews

Fees paid by companies fall far short of covering expenses of program set up to protect patients, consumers

Jun 11, 2024
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