Jake Thomas

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Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi unveiled a strategic plan for the agency on Tuesday, Aug. 6, that promises sweeping changes for health equity in the state. | SCREENSHOT

Hathi unveils Oregon health equity plan, vows progress by 2027

The state’s new health equity strategic plan took years to assemble due to the pandemic, but the Oregon Health Authority director says measurable improvements won’t take that long

Aug 6, 2024
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A doctor using a digital tablet. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Medical Board trims anti-discrimination rule as providers worry

Doctors and others complained the rule was too vague. The board has since reworked the rule that is part of a broader push to address racism in health care settings

Aug 1, 2024
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Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, on Nov. 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Marion County loses latest lawsuit seeking greater state hospital access

Lawyers for the county argued the state hospital must provide outpatient treatment for people it could not admit. A judge ruled that the case was beyond his court

Jul 30, 2024
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U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden at a July 9, 2022 event in Portland. | PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP/PETER WONG (USED WITH PERMISSION)

Wyden seeks stiffer penalties for fraudulent signups

The Oregon Senator is proposing a crackdown on brokers and agents who switch consumers onto different health insurance plans without their consent

Jul 25, 2024
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Oregon Health & Science University researcher Jonah Sacha is a senior co-author of a study published in the journal Nature Communications on an experimental flu vaccine designed to protect against all variants of the virus. | COURTESY/CHRISTINE TORRES HICKS OF OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

Study holds hope for revolutionary flu vaccine, OHSU researchers say

A study conducted on monkeys suggests a new approach could help reduce the harms of a wide range of future influenza variants, but more needs to be done to prove safety and effectiveness

Jul 23, 2024
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Providence Portland Medical Center. | M.O. STEVENS/CC BY 3.0/WIKIMEDIA

Providence, Legacy warn thousands of patients of possible exposure to hepatitis, HIV

A former Oregon Anesthesiology Group physician is suspected of having violated infection control standards, but so far the allegations have not been linked to any patient infections, authorities say

Jul 12, 2024

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The medical establishment has wrestled with evidence that racial minorities and other marginalized communities experience worse health outcomes and that biases by health care providers — conscious and unconscious — have contributed to those disparities. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Medical Board delays microaggression, bias rule criticized as vague

Medical professions are trying to address racism in health care. But a group representing Oregon doctors raised concerns over how the rule would be applied

Jul 11, 2024
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BRUNO/PIXABAY

State’s low-income climate benefit takes effect in time for heat wave

The Oregon Health Authority says hundreds of air conditioners have been distributed so far

Jul 9, 2024

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The Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council discusses during its July 3, 2024 meeting a new formula for grants that is intended to set a funding floor for rural counties. | SCREENSHOT

Measure 110 spending plan means Portland area will lag despite size, diversity

New rules to help rural counties mean the Portland region will receive an estimated $13 million a year in recovery services less than what its population calls for, showing challenges in funding for recovery services

Jul 9, 2024
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Oregon Health Authority Sejal Hathi addressed agency employees in a video on her first day, Jan. 16, 2024 | SCREENSHOT FROM OHA VIDEO

New records show relations soured before Oregon Health Authority equity director’s firing

Leann Johnson criticized top agency leaders and filed formal complaints against them claiming discrimination and retaliation. In firing her, Director Sejal Hathi cited a backlog of unresolved civil rights complaints that equity managers attributed to understaffing

Jul 2, 2024