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U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden speaks about reforms to Medicare at the Community for Positive Aging in Portland on Oct. 15, 2024. Wyden made the appearance on the first day of Medicare's open enrollment period, a time when seniors are bombarded with often confusing information. He was joined by Carisa Dickson, a manager in a Multnomah County program that helps seniors with Medicare.

As Medicare enrollment launches for 2025, Wyden sounds alarm

Oregon Senator says Congress and federal regulators need to do more to protect seniors from unscrupulous business practices by Medicare Advantage plans

Oct 15, 2024
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Washington County’s Hawthorn Walk-In Center for mental health and addictions care in Hillsboro./Washington County

Washington and Clackamas counties go to court over Measure 110 funding change

The changes gives rural counties a bigger share of an estimated $427 million in treatment money. But the pair of Portland area counties say they were shut of the process

Oct 15, 2024
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SAMARITAN PACIFIC COMMUNITIES HOSPITAL IN NEWPORT./VISITOR7/CC BY-SA 3.0/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Surgeons file $4.5 million whistleblower retaliation suit against Samaritan Health Services

Two reconstructive surgeons have filed a whistleblower retaliation suit against the Corvallis-based health system, saying they were fired for complaining that management’s cost-cutting hurt care

Oct 15, 2024
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OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Continuing ONE benefit eligibility flubs primarily stemmed from human error, auditors say

A new look at the state’s historically troubled $416 million eligibility system found that enrollment and benefit errors during the pandemic largely were not the fault of its automated processes, providing counterpoint to the state's earlier record in costly IT projects

Oct 10, 2024
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The Oregon Health Authority in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Oregon Health Authority again taps a Washington, D.C. veteran for high-level post

Clare Pierce-Wrobel, an adviser for the White House Domestic Policy Council, will join the Oregon Health Authority to head its health policy and analytics work

Oct 10, 2024
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Emma Sandoe, Oregon's new director of Medicaid, will oversee care for 1.4 million low-income people in the Oregon Health Plan. She's shown speaking last week at the annual conference of CCO Oregon, a trade group focused on the regional care entities that manage Medicaid in the state. | COURTESY CCO OREGON

New Oregon Medicaid Director Emma Sandoe readies for challenges

Bearing a national health policy reputation, the new manager of the Oregon Health Plan will have to adapt to a very different program after working in North Carolina

Oct 8, 2024
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Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford in June, 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Asante Health denied in bid to overturn Medford hospital union vote

Federal labor officials have rejected a challenge to the outcome of an election at Rogue Regional Medical Center

Oct 8, 2024
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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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Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon hospitals' new suit over poor mental health care could complicate legislative session

State lawmakers say behavioral health remains a major priority, and now hospitals' revived lawsuit could raise the stakes

Oct 3, 2024
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COURTESY PEACEHEALTH

PeaceHealth to acquire four Providence clinics in Vancouver

As OHSU proposes to take over Legacy's Vancouver hospital, the Catholic health systems cite PeaceHealth’s stronger local foothold

Oct 3, 2024
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