Nick Budnick

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Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. | COURTESY BAY AREA HOSPITAL.

Union wants to keep Coos Bay hospital in public hands

With a Tennessee-based firm poised to take over operation of Bay Area Hospital, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 says a few changes and a temporary loan are what's needed to get the facility breaking even again

Feb 27
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Sejal Hathi, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, has taken a part-time job seeing patients at Stanford University's teaching hospital in California. Hathi said she misses seeing patients, will work a weekend a month and is trying to restructure the position so she receives no pay. | STATE OF OREGON

Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi defends outside job at legislative hearing

Critics say her $265,000-a-year-job is 24-7, but Hathi told lawmakers her side job won't be a distraction from Oregon's largest state agency. She plans to work a shift or two a month at Stanford University's teaching hospital .

Feb 20
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Sejal Hathi, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, has taken a part-time job seeing patients at Stanford University's teaching hospital in California. Hathi said she misses seeing patients, will work a weekend a month and is trying to restructure the position so she receives no pay. | STATE OF OREGON

Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi has taken a side job in California

Stanford University is touting its hire of Hathi, a prominent state official and a physician, to see patients at its teaching hospital. It's a paid position, but Hathi said she is talking to the university about how to avoid receiving compensation.

Feb 19
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Picket line near Providence St. Vincent Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

More than 4,000 striking Providence nurses will lose health coverage on March 1

Oregon's largest hospital system cited the length of the strike in a notice to nurses who've walked out from eight hospitals. The union accused Providence of delaying after members voted down a tentative deal.

Feb 13

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Dr. Jane Zhu of Oregon Health & Science University examined billings for gastroenterology care before and after practices are acquired finding a boost in costs. | COURTESY OF OHSU/CHRISTINE TORRES HICKS

Study: Private equity takeovers boost billings, fees

A new study co-authored by OHSU researcher Jane Zhu drilled down on the bills issued by gastroenterologists after private equity buys their practices, finding a 78% jump in professional fees for colonoscopies and other care

Feb 11
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Picket line near Providence St. Vincent Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Providence nurses could reject the deals intended to end their 28-day strike

Many nurses are going public to say the negotiated tentative agreements seeking to end Oregon's largest-ever health care walkout don't go far enough. They are voting today.

Feb 6
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PIXABAY

Consultant vows to ‘zero in’ on Oregon prison care denials in wake of blistering report

A consultant hired by Oregon prison officials to look into a scathing outside review said his firm will operate with transparency and objectivity. An attorney specializing in representing people denied care said a pattern of outrageous decisions in recent years calls for a more in-depth review.

Feb 4
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Picket line near Providence St. Vincent Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Kotek muscles into Providence contract impasse

Governor's personal meeting with top leaders of both sides in the contract impasse marks a new phase in which both sides have paused their public statements to focus on in-person mediation.

Jan 30
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Rock formations at Bandon Beach in Southern Oregon. | LISA MCKELLY/PIXABAY

Troubled Bandon-based nonprofit will stay open, preserving care on the Oregon coast

After years of turmoil, Coast Community Health Center was prepared to call it quits two weeks ago. But the federally funded nonprofit now says an infusion of funds and a new operating partner will keep services going to low-income residents.

Jan 28
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Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield blasted the Trump administration on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 after federal funding portals shut down in the wake of a new White House order.

Kotek, Rayfield blast Trump over shutdown of Medicaid funding

As lawmakers take up an optimistic budget proposed by Kotek, the unexplained abrupt shutdown of federal reimbursements to a variety of safety net programs is sparking a backlash across the country

Jan 28