State Health Policy

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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
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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
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Private equity and large corporations have a complicated and not always noticed presence in health care. A bill limiting the corporate practice of medicine failed to pass the Oregon Legislature despite broad support. | SHUTTERSTOCK

What killed the Oregon effort to curb corporate medicine?

Concerns over big business in health care propelled a rookie lawmaker’s bill through the House before opponents entangled it in delay, objections

Mar 12

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Oregon State Capitol in Salem. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon legislative session’s early end closed curtain on significant health care bills

Bills concerning treatment centers, violence against hospital staff, school health and insurance mandates perished, but other impactful bills made it through

Mar 12
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Pictured: the North Albany building of The Corvallis Clinic, P.C. | COURTESY OF THE CORVALLIS CLINIC, P.C.

Critics assail Corvallis Clinic bid to sidestep state review

Owners of clinic group say the locally owned business is in a financial emergency that warrants immediate purchase by the global health care giant UnitedHealth Group

Mar 12
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Clockwise from front left: Sophomores Madison Cailteux, Kaden Davis Young, Samuel Stanley, Jack Von Ammon and Pearl Carter participate in cooperative learning during science class at South Eugene High School on Dec. 11, 2023. | EMILY GREEN/THE LUND REPORT

Legislature earmarks funding for youth prevention, treatment

Bill to accompany Measure 110 rewrite boosts funding for fentanyl awareness, other programs

Mar 7
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A view of the Oregon State Capitol on February 26, 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon drug prices in the spotlight as legislative session nears end

With patients and providers suffering the effects of pricing battles between drugmakers and insurers, lawmakers appear poised to make new laws

Mar 5
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The Oregon Capitol in Salem, Ore. on March 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Bill targets health care cost-control measure critics call discriminatory

Legislation passed both houses to ban ‘quality of life’ considerations in state health coverage for low-income people. Critics say doing so undermines efforts to limit drug prices.

Feb 29
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State Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, and former Gov. John Kitzhaber testified in favor a bill limiting private equity and other business interests involvement in health care during a February 26, 2024 hearing of the Oregon Senate Health Committee. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Doctors weigh in on bill to curb private equity in health care

Some doctors support bill, while others oppose; former governor says opponents speak for big business

Feb 27
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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
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