Ben Botkin

Gov. Kate Brown | BRADLEY PARKS/OPB

Governor Orders Oregon Schools To Start In-Person Reopening In Late March

The directive will require every public K-12 school to offer at least some in-person instruction.

Mar 5, 2021

SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Health Leaders Seek More Flexibility On Medicaid Spending

The state wants its next five-year Medicaid plan, that has to be approved by federal authorities, to allow for spending on housing, for example.

Mar 5, 2021
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Considers Using Medicaid Money On Housing, Other Non-Medical Work

Oregon officials are drafting the state's next five-year Medicaid plan for review and approval by federal authorities who control the purse strings.

Mar 5, 2021
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PIXABAY

Oregon Bill Would Boost Market Access To Generic Prescription Drugs

Senate Bill 764 would prevent "pay to delay" agreements between pharmaceutical companies that delay the introduction of generic prescription drugs into the market.

Mar 3, 2021
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Oregon Allocates Initial 34,000 Doses of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

The vaccine, which needs only one shot, will be used for providers visiting jails and adult foster homes with small numbers of residents who have not yet been vaccinated.

Mar 3, 2021

SHUTTERSTOCK

Naturopathic Physicians Seek Same Reimbursement Rates As Other Physicians

House Bill 2673 would provide parity for naturopaths but the medical establishment is opposed, saying it would drive up health care costs.

Mar 2, 2021
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The University of Washington is vaccinating frontline health care staff against COVID-19. | COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Front-Line Grocery Workers Lobby To Move Forward In Vaccination Line

Reluctant to wait until May for vaccinations, retail workers say their jobs are dangerous, in part because customers ignore masking and other rules.

Mar 1, 2021
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Four Portland-area hospital system are running the Oregon Convention Center site while Salem Health is in charge of the fairgrounds in Salem. | OHSU

Oregon's New COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Makes Everyone Eligible By July 1

The state also switched to a lottery sign-up system in the Portland area after 400,000 people tried to sign up for about 3,500 spots on Thursday.

Feb 26, 2021

SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Could Receive 25,000 Doses Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Next Week

Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said the initial shipment is likely to be the biggest as the company dives into its stockpile and then tries to ramp up production.

Feb 24, 2021
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