Sen. Larry George

A bipartisan bill crafted by Sen. Chip Shields and Sen. Larry George requires doctors to notify patients of their right to get tests or physical therapy from a provider of their choice, but Providence and others want to give patients as little notice as possible, and keep them inside their health system.

If the Legislature passes HB 2870 giving cigarette taxing authority to counties, the Multnomah County Chair told the Senate Finance Committee that Oregon’s most populous county would consider raising taxes by a half dollar.