State Health Policy

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St. Charles Health System in Bend. | COURTESY OF ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

Oregon Imposes Rules Forcing Hospitals to Disclose Rationing

Hospitals that invoke crisis standards of care in a staffing emergency must publicly disclose the crisis and how they are triaging patients.

Aug 4, 2022
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon’s Meth Problem: More Money Than Leadership

Despite a windfall of new funding that could combat Oregon’s meth-fueled behavioral health crisis, leaders have no plan and risk leaving promising approaches on the shelf.

Aug 4, 2022

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Meth Has Changed, And It’s Sabotaging Oregon’s Mental Health System

In the state with the highest rate of meth use in the nation, the drug is driving severe mental illness among criminal defendants at the state psychiatric hospital, and patients elsewhere are paying the price.

Aug 2, 2022

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The west plaza at Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | COURTESY OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Amid Oregon State Hospital Problems, Health Systems Go To Court

Hospitals and the Unity Center for Behavioral Health want judges to force the state psychiatric hospital to treat civilly committed patients.

Aug 2, 2022
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JEREMY VANDEHEY IS LEAVING THE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY TO HEAD OREGON OPERATIONS FOR THE INSURER PACIFICSOURCE HEALTH PLANS./COURTESY PHOTO

Vandehey Leaving Oregon Health Authority

Vandehey served as the policy point person for the Oregon Health Authority after serving as an advisor to Gov. Kate Brown.

Jul 27, 2022
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People without insurance often use emergency rooms for health care which drives up costs. | LYNNE TERRY/OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE

State Blasts Legacy Health's Challenge to Meal Break Rules

At stake is potentially more than $100 million in fines for Legacy, a Portland-based health system of six hospitals around the state, based on violations found by the state Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Jul 26, 2022
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Patrick Allen. | COPYRIGHTED IMAGE REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Oregon Health Authority Responds to Conservative Media Barrage

Misleading commentaries triggered a backlash of ‘hate’ by taking out of context a line from an email calling urgency ‘a white supremacy value.’

Jul 19, 2022
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New Oregon Merger Review Program OK’s First Deal

Officials approved a private equity firm’s acquisition of hospice facilities in Salem and Lake Oswego, but critics have concerns.

Jul 19, 2022
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Rep. Rob Nosse, shown at a meeting of the Interim House Committee on Behavioral Health in June, has been tapped to head the Committee on Health Care — which could take on an expanded role next year if the two committees are merged. | SCREENGRAB VIA ZOOM/THE LUND REPORT

Nosse Prepares For New Role Heading House Health Care Committee

Speaker Dan Rayfield may fold behavioral health back into the House health care committee, and Nosse is making plans to deal with it.

Jul 14, 2022
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Study: ‘Phantom’ Providers Rife In Oregon Health Plan 

More than half of primary and mental health providers in the state's low-income health care program appeared to be “phantoms” who didn’t see anyone, OHSU researchers say.

Jul 7, 2022
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