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SHUTTERSTOCK

Long COVID Patients Face Barriers To Disability Benefits

Most applications for government disability benefits are initially denied, leading to a lengthy appeals process.

Nov 10, 2022

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FERNANDO ZHIMINAICELA/PIXABAY

Medicare Fines For High Hospital Readmissions Drop, But Nearly 2,300 Facilities Are Still Penalized

The average payment reduction was 0.43%, the lowest since 2014.

Nov 8, 2022

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Feds Will Penalize 21 Oregon Hospitals For High Readmissions

Too many Medicare patients returned within days of discharge for common conditions, leading to penalties.

Nov 8, 2022
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Nurses rally at Oregon Health & Science University. | OREGON NURSES ASSOCIATION

Opinion: Oregon Should Avoid The Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact

Tamie Cline, president of the board of directors of the Oregon Nurses Association, says the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact is a bad idea.

Nov 3, 2022
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WAYNE EVANS/PEXELS

‘Fourth Trimester’ Focus Is Pushed To Prevent Maternal Deaths

A staggering 84% of pregnancy-related deaths were deemed preventable, according to data released in September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nov 3, 2022

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An employee of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services helps a consumer pick a health care plan on the federal online health insurance marketplace. | DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND BUSINESS SERVICES

This Open Enrollment Season, Look Out For Health Insurance That Seems Too Good To Be True

People who buy their own health coverage should be aware that alternative products, such as short-term health plans and health care sharing ministries, often provide far fewer protections, experts say.

Nov 3, 2022

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Nurses at Legacy Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. | LYNNE TERRY/THE LUND REPORT

Nurses’ Union Bill Would Set Minimum Staffing Levels For Hospitals

Hospital officials say boosting staffing minimums would lead to increased financial losses and fewer staffed beds for patient care.

Nov 2, 2022
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Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. | COURTESY OF BAY AREA HOSPITAL

In Novel Tactic, Labor Unions Target Coos Bay Hospital Board For Recall

Two union-represented groups of workers push to oust publicly-elected board members accused of mismanaging the nonprofit hospital.

Oct 25, 2022
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DR. BHAVIN SHAH AND SUNITA KALSARIYA’S JOURNEY TO REDUCE SHAH’S HIGH MEDICAL BILL ENTAILED BEING BRIEFLY SENT TO DEBT COLLECTION, ASKING FOR HELP FROM THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND EVENTUALLY UNCOVERING THAT NEARLY $7,000 OF SHAH’S INITIAL CHARGES WERE FOR A PROCEDURE THAT WAS NEVER PERFORMED./BRAM SABLE-SMITH/KHN

Billing Expert Saved Big After Finding Incorrect Charge On Husband’s ER Bill

Her sleuthing knocked thousands of dollars off the hospital’s charges — and provides a playbook for other consumers.

Oct 25, 2022

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SHELBY BOYD TAKES MEDICATION AT HER HOME IN LAKE OSWEGO, AUG. 11, 2022. BOYD, WHO HAD COVID-19 IN JANUARY 2021, IS STILL ENDURING BLACKOUTS, BRAIN FOG AND FATIGUE DUE TO LONG COVID-19./KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/OPB

Lost Wages And Debt: The Economic Blow Of Long COVID-19 In Oregon

More than 200,000 Oregonians have likely experienced long COVID-19, causing significant health issues and financial pain.

Oct 18, 2022