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February 9, 2012 – The Columbia Public Health District and members of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners are awaiting a trial date to decide the fate of the district's assets, which include the public health building and the land in St. Helens where officials had hoped to build a hospital. The public health district was formally dissolved after voters rejected its proposal to build that hospital.

The House Health Chairman now hopes to pass a compromise arrangement brokered by House Speaker Tina Kotek that would allow the Oregon Health Authority to set the rules to protect the state’s Medicaid reserves from Wall Street poaching and make sure those tax dollars are spent on community health.

More than 50,000 community members, organizations contribute to OHSU’s seven-year ONWARD campaign; philanthropic gifts support institution’s health care, education, research missions.

Rebecca “Gwen” Cox replaces the commission’s current executive director Bethany Walmsley on May 9. The outgoing leader bid farewell to her board with her perspective on “the state of the state” in patient safety -- including areas that need more attention.

February 22, 2012—Both the House and Senate have unanimously passed a bill that will make HIV testing a part of routine blood work and other lab tests performed by a physician or hospital. That change is expected to reduce the social stigma associated with HIV, transmission of the disease, as well as increase the number of people who are tested, according to legislators, providers and advocates of those living with HIV.