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Bart Klion says the doctors who have treated him and his wife “have made it possible for us to live an active and productive life.” But those health care providers are leaving the Klions’ Medicare Advantage plan. The New York couple were told they needed to find new doctors or other health insurance by March 31. | HANS PENNINK/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Your doctor or your insurer? Little-known rules may ease the choice in Medicare Advantage

As patients get caught in insurer-hospital contract disputes, they may be able to tap federal rules allowing special enrollment under “exceptional circumstances,” allowing beneficiaries who qualify to change plans or return to original Medicare

Mar 31, 2024

DANIEL AGRELO/PIXABAY

Oregon health care providers still feeling cash crunch after national hack ends

Health care providers across Oregon are still sorting through reams of bills to see if they will be reimbursed for care given during the hack

Mar 31, 2024

PacificSource headquarters is located in Springfield, Oregon. | COURTESY PHOTO

PacificSource lays off 29, will largely pull out of Washington

The Springfield, Oregon—based regional insurer says provider consolidation is making it harder to keep health care costs down — and challenging to expand its footprint. It will focus on its Oregon, Idaho and Montana markets instead.

Mar 28, 2024
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GUNDULA VOGEL/PIXABAY

Physician-assisted deaths reached new high in 2023

The most common end-of-life concerns were loss of autonomy, dignity and access to activities that make life enjoyable. A growing number of people said they were concerned about the financial costs of continued medical treatment.

Mar 28, 2024
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KELSEY CHANCE/UNSPLASH

More women are drinking themselves sick. The Biden administration is concerned.

Rates of deaths from excessive drinking is climbing faster among women than they are among men, new data shows

Mar 28, 2024

SHUTTERSTOCK

Tobacco companies sue to snuff out Oregon's new ‘equity assessment’

Companies are challenging a new state law in court, saying payments to account for the health effects of cigarettes would be unfair and unconstitutional

Mar 28, 2024
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Woman hold pro-choice signs in protest at nation's capital.

A reproductive rights protest in Washington D.C. on Oct. 2, 2021. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years, report shows

About 642,700 medication abortions were provided in the country last year, according to data released shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a pivotal lawsuit

Mar 28, 2024