Jake Thomas

Image

Mathew Padrow (left), Denise Darby (center) and Hunter Graham (right) testify in support of changes to Oregon's civil commitment law to the Oregon House Judiciary Committee on April 3, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Coalition's push to change Oregon’s civil commitment law faces opposition

Kotek-backed bill has support from hospitals and law enforcement and the medical community, while behavioral health advocates are split

Apr 8
Premium

Image

New Trump cut affects Astoria hospital tsunami project

A new round of federal cuts has local officials scrambling to assess the future of a community “refuge” expansion under way at Columbia Memorial Hospital

Apr 8
Premium

Image

MOHAMED HASSAN/PIXABAY

Counselors, therapists want limits on audits by health insurers and the state

Providers say audits are unfairly demanding costly repayment of very old claims — but health insurers say the proposed new rules would be unworkable

Apr 3
Premium

Image

Rep. Rob Nosse (pictured upper right) says outside advice would help lawmakers and the public when bills are proposed to require insurance companies to cover a specific treatment, device or procedure. Such bills balance complicated questions of cost and and access. | OREGON HEALTH FORUM

Bill to help lawmakers mull health insurance decisions is back

For the third session in a row, lawmakers have the opportunity to address what Rep. Rob Nosse calls a ‘lousy’ process when it comes to bills to mandate health coverage

Apr 1
Premium

Image

State Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, during a Senate Health Care Committee hearing. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon won’t set price caps on prescription drugs — for now

Citing a desire for consensus and to see how things go elsewhere, State Sen. Deb Patterson has dropped plans this session to follow the lead of some other states and authorize caps on excessive pharmaceutical prices charged to insurers and government payers

Mar 27
Premium

Image

Oregon GOP House lawmakers described their priorities for the 2025 legislative session at a press event in February. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon GOP lawmakers request federal investigation of Medicaid, gender care

Seven House members want to help Trump administration in federal litigation over gender-affirming care for minors. The Trump push has sparked alarm for civil rights advocates who say it threatens care that can be life-saving.

Mar 26
Premium

Image

State Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, chatting before a session of the Oregon House on March 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Hundreds of health care bills will live or die Friday as a key deadline hits in Salem

Legislative leaders have moved efforts to address medical debt and increase payments for dentists and behavioral health workers, but may not advance bills to protect consumers from surprise fees and boost access to primary care.

Mar 20
Premium

Image

State Rep. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, speaks to the Oregon House Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on March 20, 2025. Nathanson was testifying in favor of a bill that would give the state attorney general powers to investigate and fine health care monopolies. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon health insurers, hospitals oppose bill to establish oversight by state justice department

State Rep. Nancy Nathanson’s legislation would prohibit contracts like the ones that critics say helped make Lane County a primary care desert last year, but health insurers and others say it goes too far

Mar 20
Premium

Image

Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, on Nov. 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

State wants hospitals to pay more to support the program investigating them

Oregon health officials are asking lawmakers to support a bill that would increase hospital licensing fees by a factor of five to improve outreach and oversight. They'd still be less than in Washington state, but hospital officials say the move would further burden struggling facilities.

Mar 18
Premium