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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced questions from members of the Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 4, 2025 | ERIC HARKLEROAD/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Inside the high-stakes battle over vaccine injury compensation, autism, and public trust

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has floated the idea of adding autism to the list of conditions covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Critics say doing so would exploit the system and possibly sink the program intended to protect consumers.

Oct 7, 2025

St. John’s Community Health in Los Angeles is one of the roughly 1,500 community health centers, some of which run multiple clinics, that are bracing for cuts to government funds they rely on to operate. | JACKIE FORTIÉR/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Health centers face risks as government funding lapses

The federal government shutdown is compounding other cuts for about 1,500 federally funded health centers that serve millions of low-income people, threatening closures. That would mean more stress on hospital emergency rooms and other providers.

Oct 4, 2025

Courtesy OHSU

OHSU wins $4.25 million for autism research at an unusual time

Oregon researchers will work with counterparts at two other institutions, data and an advisory board to study resources for families

Oct 2, 2025
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Jennifer Mitchell at PeaceHealth. | COURTESY OF DR. JENNIFER MITCHELL

Concierge Docs: Why two physicians in Eugene are leaving PeaceHealth to create direct care practices

The city has become a hub of clinics that charge only a fee, with nearly as many as Portland

Oct 2, 2025
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Lane County residents no longer will be served by PacificSource

Lane County's community health clinics serve many patients covered by Medicaid. More than 90,000 low-income residents now covered by PacificSource could soon be covered by a difference coordinated care organization. | CHRIS LEHMAN | KLCC

Oregon Health Authority may soon look for a new Medicaid insurer for 90,000 Lane County residents

Withdrawal of PacificSource leaves a void in the county, which still is served by Trillium Community Health

Oct 2, 2025

Gov. Brian Kemp at the University of Georgia. | U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement program spent twice as much on administrative costs as on health care, GAO says

Report shows program has spent at least $54 million on administrative costs alone

Oct 2, 2025

Melissa Keele brought her son to a psychiatric hospital, which discharged him almost immediately.

Melissa Keele brought her son to a psychiatric hospital and he was discharged 102 minutes later. He has spiraled since then, cycling in and out of hospitals and jails. | RACHEL WOOLF | PROPUBLICA

Psychiatric hospitals turn away patients who need urgent care. The facilities face few consequences.

Discharging patients who are at risk of harming themselves or others is illegal. But dozens of psychiatric hospitals aren’t honoring the law — and the government isn’t following up.

Oct 2, 2025

Planned Parenthood facilities, like this one in southeast Portland, provide mostly testing and treating sexually transmitted infections and birth control services. Abortions make up a small portion of the services most Oregon Planned Parenthood affiliates provide. | LYNNE TERRY/OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE

One eastern Oregon clinic is a health care ‘lifeline.’ Medicaid cuts threaten its existence

Abortions are a small share of Oregon Planned Parenthood services, except at the Idaho border, where the Ontario Planned Parenthood health center is the nearest place many Idahoans can legally access abortion care.

Oct 1, 2025

United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. | FRANCINE SRECA/PIXABAY

Shutdown halts some health services as political risks test parties’ resolve

Ramifications from a shutdown on public health systems and health programs will be felt far beyond Washington, D.C., halting almost all of the federal government’s nonessential functions, including many operations related to public health

Oct 1, 2025

SHUTTERSTOCK

Eastern Oregon regional care organization will stay in Oregon Health Plan

After balking at the state’s rates, an executive said Tuesday the rural managed care group will continue serving 80,000 low-income people in the state’s ‘frontier’ counties

Sep 30, 2025
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