The Lund Report

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Oregon State Capitol in Salem. | RENAUDE HATSEDAKIS

Dozens of health care bills await judgment of Oregon budget writers

Many priority bills that would shore up behavioral health and health care services could die as Legislature nears finish line

Jun 9
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SHUTTERSTOCK

National group, Oregon Death with Dignity leader says ‘modernization’ bill strips safeguards

The national assisted dying group Compassion & Choices and its longtime leader, Barbara Coombs Lee, say a bill headed to the Senate floor has major problems

Jun 5

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Shereef Elnahal | COURTESY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

OHSU board considers former VA official Shereef Elnahal for top job

It's unclear when the board will make a decision after a second finalist dropped out Wednesday. Elnahal on Thursday said his selection would be “the professional honor of my life.”

Jun 5

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Republican plan to cut Medicaid would unravel Oregon’s health care safety net, experts say

Oregon lawmakers would have to call a special session to grapple with a loss of at least $1 billion in federal funds in its next budget

Jun 4
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Medical bill | SHUTTERSTOCK

Bill to bar medical debt from credit reports poised to pass Oregon Legislature

Democrats, with a few Republicans, have approved Senate Bill 605 in successive votes

Jun 3
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Dr. Amanda Risser, chief medical officer at Central City Concern. | COURTESY OF CENTRAL CITY CONCERN

Q&A: Amanda Risser takes over as top doc at Central City Concern

The new head of medical care for the region’s largest homeless service provider talks about looming Medicaid cuts, weak links in the system, and priorities for the future

Jun 3
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SABINE VAN ERP/PIXABAY

Changes to Oregon's Death With Dignity Act may advance

A bill intended to streamline access to physician-assisted death around the state has sparked controversy, leading to some amendments

May 30
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OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital has a level 1 pediatric trauma center. | OHSU/CHRISTINE TORRES HICKS

Cutting coverage for undocumented people in Oregon could increase costs elsewhere

The Trump administration threat to states like Oregon will either reduce funding for the state or increase the need for costly emergency care at hospitals. Those costs would be passed on to businesses and individuals in the state who buy commercial health insurance.

May 29
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Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey (left) and Majority Leader Ben Bowman during a press availability in January 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Bill aimed at barring corporate meddling in patients' medical care passes Legislature

Senate Bill 951, an earlier version of which failed last year in the Oregon Senate, won some Republican support in both the House and the Senate, and is on its way for Gov. Tina Kotek's signature

May 28
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Jim Diegel, former head of St. Charles Health System, tapped as temp for state hospital superintendent

An experienced hospital operations strategist, Diegel is tasked to turn around a long-troubled institution that is a lynchpin of both the state’s behavioral health and criminal justice systems

May 28
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