Ben Botkin

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Patrick Allen. | COPYRIGHTED IMAGE REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE

'Chaos' Ahead As Oregon Expands Vaccine Rollout to Seniors, State Official Warns

The states expect that vaccinating the nearly 770,000 Oregonians age 65 and older will take several months given the limited supply of vaccine being sent to the state.

Feb 3, 2021
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Oregon Bill Would Protect Legal Immigrants Seeking Health Care

Lawmakers want to let immigrants apply for financial help from a hospital rather than have to apply for the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program.

Feb 2, 2021
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Requires Health Insurers To Cover COVID-19 Vaccination Costs

Patients are not charged for the vaccine or the provider’s cost of administering it whether they have commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or no insurance at all.

Feb 2, 2021

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Patrick Allen is director of the Oregon Health Authority. | DAVE KILLEN/THE OREGONIAN/OREGONLIVE

Oregon Redistributes Vaccine As Some Counties Surge Ahead In Inoculating Priority Groups

The state also allows fitness facilities to open to small groups, but each facility can have only four groups of up to six people at a time, and each group must be in a separate enclosed area.

Jan 29, 2021
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Oregon Health & Science University is running a mass vaccination site at PDX airport. | OHSU

Oregon Redistributes Vaccine, Loosens Restrictions

The reallocation comes at a time when cases and hospitalizations are down but the need for vaccines is more urgent than ever with the presence of new variants in the United States.

Jan 29, 2021

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Four Portland hospitals are running a mass vaccination clinic at the Oregon Convention Center. | OHSU

Oregon's Looming Challenge: Vaccinating Essential Workers

A union official tells lawmakers that these workers must not be made to wait in line for hours because they can’t afford to miss a day of pay.

Jan 27, 2021
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Gov. Kate Brown displaying a mask at a May 7, 2020 news conference. | SCREENGRAB VIA YOUTUBE/OREGONIAN/OREGONLIVE

Governor’s Commission Urges Brown To Reverse Priorities For Vaccine Plan

The governor’s Commission on Senior Services became the latest group to make an appeal, saying, “We implore you to reverse your latest decision immediately.”

Jan 25, 2021
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St. Charles Health System in Redmond. | COURTESY ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

St. Charles Identifies Source Of COVID-19 Outbreak At Redmond Hospital 

The cause was a patient who initially tested negative for COVID-19 and who had difficulty wearing a mask.

Jan 22, 2021
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Gov. Kate Brown Mounts Defense Over Decision To Vaccinate Teachers Before Seniors 

Governor sticks with COVID-19 vaccination schedule despite critics, including the group representing Oregon hospitals.

Jan 22, 2021
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Gov. Kate Brown. | JAIME VALDEZ/PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Gov. Kate Brown Commits To Affordable Health Care In Annual Speech

The governor urged Oregon to prepare for a long haul with the pandemic and said she would back a proposal to cap the rise in health care costs statewide at 3.4%.

Jan 21, 2021