the lund report

Family Providers Question Potential Changes to OHSU's Rural Curriculum

The school is expanding its rural clerkships, with many new positions in specialty practices
April 1, 2013 – While Oregon Health & Sciences University is pushing for free tuition to students who choose to serve in underserved areas – including rural Oregon – it's also revising its curriculum in ways some doctors fear will affect rural rotations, also called clerkships. Read More >>

House Bill 3000 Requires Children to Have Eyes Checked for School

Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, offers emotional testimony recounting how his mother was told he was stupid because he couldn’t read by third grade when he just needed glasses
  April 1, 2013 — Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, as the co-chairman of the Joint Ways & Means Committee, presides over much of the budget and has to be well-versed on statistics and figures.
 
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Insurance Division Lowers Requirements for Health Insurance Sold Outside Cover Oregon

At the request of Regence BlueCross BlueShield and Lifewise, the state will require a silver plan, but not a gold plan to sell health insurance outside the exchange. All insurers selling health plans in Cover Oregon must still offer a gold plan.
March 29, 2013 — Oregon’s Insurance Division changed a requirement that all insurers offering plans outside the Cover Oregon exchange next year offer a gold-level plan following a request from insurers such as Regence BlueCross BlueShield and Lifewise Health Plan. Read More >>

House Committee Votes to Require Insurers to Pay for Court-Ordered Treatment

Regence BlueCross BlueShield opposes the provision, arguing to keep current law where private insurers have the option to deny claims for alcohol or drug treatment if it’s a result of a DUII or other conviction
March 29, 2013 — People with drug and alcohol addictions who end up in treatment as a result of a DUII will get their treatment picked up by insurance if a bill sponsored by Rep. Phil Barnhart, D-Eugene, becomes law. Read More >>

Courtney Wants $4.9 Million for Scholars for a Healthy Oregon

Senate Bill 2 would give scholarships to 40 aspiring providers and has strong bipartisan support, but funding the program remains a question
March 28, 2013 — The Oregon Legislature is considering yet another measure to make the price of medical school more affordable, this one with the backing of Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem. Read More >>

Unlawful Trade Act for Insurers Heads to House Floor

Key Republican Rep. Dennis Richardson backs the bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Paul Holvey, saying current law does not do enough to protect consumers
  March 27, 2013 — A measure that would remove the insurance industry’s special exemption from the Unlawful Trade Practices Act cleared the House Consumer Protection and Government Efficiency Committee with a 6-3 vote on Tuesday and heads to the House floor.
 
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Small Pharmacies Getting Squeeze from Goliath PBMs

A bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Jules Bailey and Rep. Greg Smith would regulate pharmacy benefit managers, which local pharmacists say are driving them out of business
March 27, 2013 — Central Drugs Pharmacy has been open for 110 years in downtown Portland, and it specializes in dispensing drugs for those who suffer from HIV. Read More >>

In Health Insurance, Unhappy Customers Don't Mean Lower Revenue

A five-year analysis of complaints data finds no relationship between customer complaints and profitability
March 27, 2013 – The number of confirmed consumer complaints made against an insurer doesn't affect that insurer's market share, according to a multiyear analysis of complaints registered with the Oregon Insurance Division. Read More >>

Hospital Finances: A Look at Salem Health Chains and PeaceHealth

Alan Yordy, president and CEO of PeaceHealth, saw his salary top the million dollar mark in 2011, while Salem Hospital earned a profit of $23.9 million
March 27, 2013 -- How well are Oregon’s hospitals meeting local needs? Are they making smart decisions about their money? Today, The Lund Report runs the second in a series of stories that is exploring the state of Oregon hospitals. Read More >>

Real Life Consequences of Health Reform

A non-profit organization faces the real challenges of life with Obamacare
OPINION – March 26, 2013 -- A southern Oregon non-profit organization, currently employing 205 employees, is wrestling with the implications of health reform on its organization. Of the 205 employees, 63 employees are considered administrative staff or professional and they are covered by health insurance with the employee premium fully paid. There are an additional 90 employees who would now meet the new definition of full-time employees at 30 hours per week. These employees are not currently offered health insurance. The non-profit organization now has a total of 153 30-hour full-time employees and 47 part-time employees. Their current monthly insurance premium for the 63 employees on a $3,000 deductible plan is $52,191 for medical and prescription drug coverage. Read More >>
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