State Health Policy

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THE LUND REPORT ILLUSTRATION/SHUTTERSTOCK

New Oregon data raises a $287 million question on drug prices

Hefty rebates on drug costs went to insurers and employers but some critics say they’re actually making costs go up, not down

Oct 8, 2024
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Rep. Travis Nelson, a nurse, speaks at a conference held by CCO Oregon, on Wednesday in Salem as Rep. Lisa Reynolds, a physician, listens. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon lawmakers share plans for 2025 session

Key state legislators agree that there are a lot of needs, and figuring out what to focus on is the challenge up next as the long session looms

Oct 2, 2024
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Oregon was one of eight states and the District of Columbia, which saw fatal drug overdoses rise as the they fell in the rest of the country, according to federal data released in August 2024. | SCREENSHOT/CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Overdoses killing more Oregonians as national figure drops

The western spread of fentanyl continues to fuel regional variations in the number of people dying from drug overdoses, and Measure 110's effects remain debated

Oct 1, 2024

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Warren George, a retired business consultant from Corvallis, has been a longtime advocate for a single-payer health care system. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Key member of Oregon universal health board, Warren George, resigns

The business consultant had been a source of hope for advocates; he cites the board’s overreliance on staff as well as his desire to spend more time with his wife

Sep 26, 2024
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The OHSU Center for Health & Healing Building 2 in the South Waterfront neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, on July 25, 2020. | SHUTTERSTOCK

OHSU, Legacy submit long-delayed paperwork for proposed merger

The two health systems want to form a 10-hospital Oregon health care powerhouse, and now state regulators will consider whether the idea makes sense for patients and employees

Sep 26, 2024
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Rachel Prusak, executive director of the Oregon State Board of Nursing, speaks to the Oregon Behavioral Health and Health Care House on Sept. 23, 2024, about efforts to improve her agency's responsiveness to people seeking licenses. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Delays, poor service at Oregon health licensing boards being addressed, lawmakers told

A nursing board call center is helping responsiveness, but other agencies report mixed results as one lawmaker seeks to plug workforce gaps with out-of-state professionals

Sep 24, 2024
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The front desk of ARCHES Inn in Salem, a hotel turned shelter that is operated by Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action. The facility offers wildfire survivors, as well as chronically homeless and medically fragile people a short-term stay. Settings like this could be part of addressing delays in hospital discharges in Oregon. | COURTESY/MID-WILLAMETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION

Solutions floated for Oregon’s hospital boarding problem

Using hospitals to hold people who don’t need to be in a hospital is having ripple effects across the state’s health care system

Sep 12, 2024
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The Oregon Health Authority in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Oregon Health Authority seeks $39 billion budget

Director Sejal Hathi has submitted a budget to Gov. Tina Kotek that beefs up spending on residential treatment and the state's beleaguered behavioral health workforce, while offering potential cuts as well.

Sep 3, 2024
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Medical Board’s latest anti-discrimination rule sparks advocate’s bias concern

The Oregon Medical Board scaled back the rule in response to physicians’ concerns, but Disability Rights Oregon says the new version could permit discrimination against patients with disabilities

Sep 3, 2024
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LUND REPORT ILLUSTRATION/SHUTTERSTOCK

Advisory committee members sought for Oregon’s ‘bridge’ health plan

A new committee will advise the state on the operation of a program launched in July. OHP Bridge extends benefits similar to those of the Oregon Health Plan to people who make 200% of federal poverty level or less.

Aug 22, 2024
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