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A pile of flowers and a note eulogizing Bobby Smallwood, a security officer for Legacy Health, sit outside the Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he was killed during a confrontation on July 30, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

New push to make hospital worker assault a felony sparks familiar concerns

Lawmakers are again debating whether stiffer penalties for assaulting hospital workers would criminalize people for mental illness

Feb 20, 2024
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Oregon Capitol in Salem. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

As drug criminalization debate rages, Oregon lawmakers consider creating a new misdemeanor

Democrats and Republicans are seeing whether they can find compromise over what kinds of consequences drug users might face

Feb 13, 2024

Clouds hover over the Oregon Capitol building.

Oregon State Capitol in Salem. | BEN BOTKIN/THE LUND REPORT

Workforce, mental health top health care priorities as Oregon legislative session begins

Lawmakers don’t have a price tag yet for training more health care workers and expanding mental health services.

Jan 19, 2023
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YEONHEE LEE/PIXABAY

Legislation seeks stable funding for new 988 crisis hotline

The bill would establish a new cell phone tax to fund a hotline that advocates and lawmakers say is key to rebuilding Oregon’s mental health services.

Feb 7, 2023
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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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MOHAMED HASSAN/PIXABAY

Counselors, therapists want limits on audits by health insurers and the state

Providers say audits are unfairly demanding costly repayment of very old claims — but health insurers say the proposed new rules would be unworkable

Apr 3
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Nurses and supporters picket outside of Providence Milwaukie Hospital on June 18, 2024. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Bill to offer unemployment pay to striking workers sets up clash in Salem

Labor groups argue the bill would extend a crucial lifeline to workers. Employers say it would lead to longer strikes.

Feb 6

Activists on Feb. 13, 2023, protested the proposed closure of Mount Hood Family Birth Center in Gresham. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

East County lawmakers urge state to block Legacy’s closure of Gresham birth center

Lawmakers’ letter contends an ‘unsafe’ care model sought by the health system for the maternity unit caused a wave of staff to exit

Mar 13, 2023
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Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Judge’s psychiatric discharge deadlines spawned ‘legal limbo,’ service gaps, locals say

Efforts to fix a bottleneck at Oregon State Hospital have increased problems elsewhere, local officials told lawmakers Wednesday

Nov 8, 2023
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Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center's Century High School clinic in in Hillsboro, Oregon. | ©PORTLAND TRIBUNE, REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION

Oregon lawmakers to push for in-school medical center funding

With mental health issues among adolescents on the rise, advocates say school-based health centers need more funding

Nov 7, 2023
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