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MIKA BAUMEISTER/UNSPLASH

WA health officials throw away millions of pandemic supplies

Masks, gowns, gloves and more: States are culling their expired stockpiles, but medical experts say the waste shows a system unprepared for disasters

Feb 27, 2024

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Inside the internal debates of a hospital abortion committee

In states that banned abortion, doctors are forced to wrestle with tough decisions about high-risk pregnancy care.

Feb 27, 2024

Counterfeit oxycodone pills made with fentanyl are made to look like the prescription drug. | DEA

‘Fourth Wave’ of opioid epidemic crashes ashore, propelled by fentanyl and meth

According to a new report that breaks down regional differences, an overwhelming majority of fentanyl-positive urine samples — nearly 93% — contained additional substances

Feb 27, 2024

Pictured: the North Albany building of The Corvallis Clinic, P.C. | COURTESY OF THE CORVALLIS CLINIC, P.C.

Hundreds decry UnitedHealth’s proposed purchase of Corvallis Clinic chain

The 11-clinic chain’s ownership says financial struggles threaten quality of care, but critics want other options considered, saying the proposal would hurt patients

Feb 26, 2024
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St. Charles Health System in Bend. | COURTESY OF ST. CHARLES HEALTH

New lawsuit accuses St. Charles Health of charity care violations

The new suit filed by a Bend resident hopes to win class-action status against the Central Oregon health system, which denies wrongdoing.

Feb 23, 2024
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SHUTTERSTOCK

With glitches fixed, Oregon Health Plan eligibility checks to resume

After problems led to thousands of Oregonians incorrectly disenrolled, the state has made fixes, restored coverage and will soon resume eligibility checks that were on hold during the pandemic

Feb 22, 2024
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Anthony Stumbo is among a group of Kentucky clinicians and researchers working to improve outcomes for lung cancer patients and their families by increasing screening rates and thereby catching tumors earlier, when they’re more treatable. | VERONICA TURNER FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS

Early detection may help Kentucky tamp down its lung cancer crisis

For the past decade, Kentucky researchers have promoted lung cancer screening, first recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2013.

Feb 22, 2024

State Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, shown at the Oregon State of Reform Health Policy Conference on Nov. 14, 2023 in Portland. Diehl is sponsoring a bill to overhaul the state’s health care professional licensing process. (Left) State. Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, and (right) Rep. Thuy Tran, D-Portland. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Task force would tackle Oregon health care licensing delays

Legislation intended to provide a short-term fix for staffing shortages has turned into an effort to dig into oft-cited problems in Oregon’s certification agencies

Feb 22, 2024
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