The Lund Report

Oregon push to shine a light on drugmakers' help to patients fails Bill sponsored by the Senate Health Committee has died in the House after facing opposition and legal questions raised by pharmaceutical industry lobbyists

How much do drugmakers' patient-assistance programs actually help patients? Oregon lawmakers wanted to find out, but a measure to press drugmakers to report on their programs ran into opposition from the pharmaceutical industry.

Lawmakers push Oregon Health Authority to probe telehealth provider A Montana-based virtual mental health services company that has been waging a campaign to keep operating in Oregon faces calls from legislators to recoup public funds the firm has received

Charlie Health, a Montana-based virtual mental health services company, has been waging a campaign to keep operating in Oregon. State lawmakers are pushing back, seeking to recoup public funds the firm has received.

Oregon filing suit with other Democratic states against Trump administration’s vaccine rollback The lawsuit, which will be filed in Northern California, includes a coalition of 14 states and the governor of Pennsylvania

Oregon joins more than a dozen other states in a lawsuit against Health Secretary RFK Jr. and the head of the CDC, claiming they did not follow well-established scientific evidence or the law last year when they rolled back vaccine recommendations.

Hospitals’ push to curb charity care sparks opposition Hospitals say a 2023 charity care law went further than expected and they’re losing lots of money as a result. Advocates say the law has helped reduce medical debt for Oregonians.

The state's nonprofit charity care law helps lower-income Oregonians pay for needed health care. Now, a proposed change to the law is pitting hospitals, which say it's needed to curb rising costs, against patient advocates, who warn it could burden thousands of people with medical debt.

Bill to limit audits of behavioral health providers is advancing Some Oregon regional care organizations serving low-income people say the legislation would conflict with federal Medicaid regulations intended to ensure accountability — but the lawmaker pushing it s...

An Oregon bill that would put limits on insurers' audits of mental health care providers is moving forward in the state legislature. The bill follows complaints by providers that under current rules they can be held accountable for repaying thousands of dollars from years-old paperwork errors.

Frequent staff absences are sparking big overruns, safety concerns at Oregon State Hospital The state’s biggest psychiatric institution is struggling with staff burnout and may also have employees “gaming” the overtime system, leading to concerns

The Oregon State Hospital, the state's largest psychiatric institution, is struggling with high rates of staff absenteeism, sparking not just financial issues, but safety concerns as well, and posing a challenge to efforts to create a culture of safety for staff and patients.

Oregon AI chatbot bill headed for Senate floor A bill spearheaded by Sen. Lisa Reynolds, a pediatrician, addresses increasing concerns about how AI is influencing children and potentially exacerbating mental health issues

After several highly publicized cases of teens taking their own lives after confiding in AI chatbots, the Oregon State Legislature is considering a bill by @senlisareynolds.bsky.social that addresses concerns about how AI is influencing children and potentially exacerbating mental health issues.

Self-styled reformers win Oregon Nurses Association election A group that called for a more aggressive approach appears to have won the majority of seats on the powerful union’s board, but the results won’t be certified before Friday

A self-styled reform slate that has called for a more aggressive approach appears to have won the majority of leadership positions at The Oregon Nurses Association in its first widely contested board election in recent memory. The results won’t be certified before Friday.

Oregon lender's growth comes with med spa complications Lake Oswego-based Dext Capital has become a financial juggernaut while serving as a primary source of loans for aesthetic medicine equipment, often bought by providers fleeing the hassles of health ca...

Lake Oswego-based Dext Capital has become a financial juggernaut while serving as a primary source of loans for aesthetic medicine equipment, often bought by providers fleeing the hassles of health care. The lender's growth has come with complaints and criticisms.

State launches review of MultiCare’s proposed acquisition of Samaritan Health Proposed transaction would pump money into Corvallis-based hospital system while moving control and ultimate decision-making authority out of state

State officials have launched a review of the plan by Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System to absorb Samaritan Health. The proposed transaction would pump money into the Corvallis-based hospital system while moving control and ultimate decision-making authority out of state.

Provider sues Kaiser for $377,000 citing disproven Ozempic ‘fraud’ claim A new defamation suit filed by a physician assistant and Oregon Health & Science University educator says two state medical boards cleared him of a bogus allegation that led to his termination by Kais...

A physician assistant and Oregon Health & Science University educator is suing Kaiser for damages after he says two state medical boards cleared him of a bogus allegation regarding Ozempic prescriptions that led to his termination.

Oregon lawmakers consider tightening hospice oversight over fraud, abuse concerns Senate Bill 1575 aims to protect people at the end of their lives from fraudulent companies that have stolen identities and provided few services in other states

About 25,000 patients use hospice services every year in Oregon. Now, state lawmakers are considering a bill aimed at protecting people at the end of their lives from fraudulent hospice companies that have stolen identities and provided few services in other states.

Bill to fund Planned Parenthood in Oregon draws passionate opinions in hearing House Bill 4127, proposed by the House majority leader, would backfill funds lost due to a federal funding ban. But at a time of state budget cuts, its cost could be a hurdle.

House Bill 4127, proposed by Oregon House majority leader Rep. Ben Bowman, would backfill funds to Planned Parenthood in Oregon that were lost due to a federal funding ban. But at a time of state budget cuts, its cost could be a hurdle. @ppfa.org

New effort to phase out 30-year-old cost-control program in Oregon faces opposition The state’s oft-controversial rationing program for the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan is proving hard to kill, with new federal guidance complicating state officials’ latest attempt to make it go...

The state’s prioritized list, the controversial rationing program for the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan, is proving hard to kill, with new federal guidance complicating state officials’ latest attempt to make it go away.

Providence has no ‘active’ plans to sell in Oregon The state’s largest hospital provider is considering repurposing or selling off hospitals across its seven-state footprint, but for now, there are no such plans underway in Oregon

Providence, Oregon's largest hospital provider, is considering repurposing or selling off hospitals across its seven-state footprint, but a spokesperson with the company says that for now, there are no such plans underway in Oregon.

Lawmakers introduce range of health care bills in a session that is clouded by a big budget hole The proposals would change how coverage for low-income residents is managed, give some providers more authority, shore up Planned Parenthood and crack down on AI chatbots

Oregon lawmakers are pitching multiple health care-related bills in a session clouded by a big budget hole. The proposals include changing how coverage for low-income residents is managed, giving some providers more authority, shoring up Planned Parenthood, and cracking down on AI chatbots.

Kotek calls telehealth pressure campaign ‘misleading’ Montana-based Charlie Health, a for-profit firm, is trying to keep operating in Oregon at a time when mental health services are in turmoil, but critics say its services need more oversight. The compa...

Gov. Tina Kotek calls the pressure campaign around Montana-based Charlie Health, a for-profit firm trying to keep operating in Oregon, "misleading." It comes at a time when mental health services are in turmoil, but critics say their services need more oversight. The company says it's ready to sue.

Oregon hospitals fail in 2024 to meet national standards on several preventable infections State and federal authorities track hospital-acquired infections, which are a leading cause of death

Hospital-acquired infections are a leading cause of death — some 99,000 people die a year in the U.S. — and they’re preventable. Oregon hospitals, as a whole, failed to meet national standards in 2024, infecting nearly 1,000 people.

Montana telehealth firm ups the pressure on Gov. Tina Kotek Charlie Health is taking its cause to the public as it tries to preserve access to Oregon Medicaid payments while providing mental health services using providers not licensed in Oregon. Others say th...

Charlie Health takes its cause to the public as it tries to preserve access to Oregon Medicaid payments while providing mental health services using providers not licensed in Oregon. Others say the state is right to stress oversight and the use of providers licensed in Oregon to ensure quality care.

Furor grows over OHSU doctor’s demotion Oregon Health & Science University is facing a revolt after removing Dr. Jennifer DeVoe, a national expert on the value of primary care, from her post

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is facing a revolt after removing Dr. Jennifer DeVoe, a national expert on the value of primary care, from her post. @ohsunews.bsky.social @oregonpca.bsky.social

Oregon patients turn to urgent care as primary care suffers The doubling of urgent care clinics in the past 10 years worries some health experts, who say the trend masks the state’s lack of support for family medicine docs and general practitioners

The rise of urgent care: The doubling of urgent care clinics in the past 10 years worries some health experts, who say the trend masks the state’s lack of support for family medicine docs and general practitioners. The Lund Report's @lynneterry.bsky.social digs into the impact this shift is having.

Asante faces criticism as it shutters maternity and inpatient services in Ashland The financially successful nonprofit hospital system hasn’t been answering the community’s questions, says state Rep. Pam Marsh. Asante had promised to operate the formerly city-owned hospital into at...

Asante has left Ashland residents in the dark about why it plans to downgrade Asante Ashland Community Hospital from a general hospital to a reduced-services “satellite” of Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, and they deserve better, said Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland.

People needing health care coverage have until Thursday to sign up for Obamacare With Congress debating cuts to consumers’ premiums, state officials urge Oregonians to enroll now and steer clear of fake websites offering false promises

Only two days remain for people to sign up for health insurance through the ACA marketplace. With Congress debating cuts to consumers’ premiums, state officials urge Oregonians to enroll now to be eligible, while cautioning against fake websites offering false promises.

Former Asante nurse sues health care system, alleging discrimination and retaliation In a ruling, the Bureau of Labor and Industries finds that Asante retaliated against the critical care nurse after he filed complaints

A former longtime nurse at Asante’s Medford hospital is suing the health care system, claiming it discriminated and retaliated against him for filing complaints over alleged health care violations and workers’ compensation claims.

As new ‘superflu’ hits other states hard, Oregon is doing relatively well Despite a new flu variant boosting national numbers, things in Oregon are better than last year. Officials say they can’t predict whether that will continue, and hospitalizations have climbed.

Despite a new flu variant boosting national numbers, things in Oregon are better than last year. Officials say they can’t predict whether that will continue, and hospitalizations have climbed.
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New health care laws in Oregon will add protections for patients, providers The new laws take effect Jan. 1 and address medical debt, civil commitment, ambulance costs, menopause, breast reconstruction and medical visits on vacation

Medical debt, civil commitment, ambulance costs, menopause, breast reconstruction and medical visits on vacation are all part of a slate of new laws taking effect in Oregon tomorrow. Read the rundown in The Lund Report by Lynne Terry.

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Oregon awarded $197 million for rural health, hospitals Oregon fares well in first year of federal program intended to fend off criticisms of Congressional health care cuts

With a $197 million grant award for rural health, Oregon fares well in the first year of a federal program intended to fend off criticisms of Congressional health care cuts.

Willamette Week's Give!Guide We handpicked 277 of Portland’s most impactful nonprofits and put them under one digital roof. Browse, donate, and get even more connected to this place we call home.

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Willamette Week's Give!Guide We handpicked 277 of Portland’s most impactful nonprofits and put them under one digital roof. Browse, donate, and get even more connected to this place we call home.

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