The Lund Report

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Lawmakers clear bills targeting Oregon’s struggling mental health system

New laws will loosen civil commitment rules and devote tens of millions of dollars to new residential facilities and workers to staff them

Jun 30
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Oregon State Capitol | SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon lawmakers pushed through some health care bills, not others as session ended

Nurses won improvements in several areas — and could receive unemployment while on strike — but a bill intended to curb community pharmacy closures fizzled

Jun 30
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OHSU's main campus in Portland in September, 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Drugmaker audit is a setup, OHSU says

With drugmakers fighting to limit drug discounts that hospitals and other providers rely on, Johnson & Johnson has launched an audit of what it calls unusual activity — but university lawyers say it’s a PR ploy with ‘calamitous’ results

Jun 26
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The Oregon Health Authority's headquarters in Salem in November, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Federal grant cuts drive layoffs at Oregon Health Authority

Already 10 people working to prevent the spread of disease have been notified their jobs are going away, and more are expected despite an increased budget

Jun 26
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Hospitals, providers effort to win lawsuit protections passes just under the wire

Critics said it will hurt victims, but a bill to exempt hospitals and others from product liability litigation crossed the finish line on Friday, the last day of the legislative session. The bill appeared dead on Thursday.

Jun 26
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Patients who contract measles, a highly contagious disease, develop a skin rash. | WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Adult sickened with measles in Portland area after travel abroad

Officials say the case is not related to hundreds of others who’ve been sickened by measles this year, most of them unvaccinated.

Jun 24

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Revolt by Oregon counties delays state behavioral health changes

State health officials want counties to focus mental health spending on criminal defendants, but counties say vulnerable people would lose access and suffer as a result

Jun 24
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New report ranks Oregon’s health care system better than most

But changes coming out of Washington, D.C., could hurt access and affordability — and block researchers’ ability to measure those effects, expert says

Jun 24
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Major behavioral health bills pending as Legislature winds down

While at least one major bill combining several pieces of legislation appears to have momentum, another backed by top lawmakers and behavioral health providers will be killed by leadership

Jun 19
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Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Oregon health officials will appeal federal contempt-of-court finding

Critics say Oregon has had plenty of time to invest in fixes to ensure prompt care of mentally ill people housed in jail, but the state officials say a new ruling levying hefty fines was unfair and unfounded

Jun 19
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