Aging

Image

St. Charles Health System in Bend. | COURTESY OF ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

St. Charles cuts ties with 3 Medicare Advantage plans as enrollment looms

Starting in 2024, the Central Oregon health system will no longer be considered in-network for Humana, HealthNet and WellCare — affecting about 6,000 seniors

Oct 10, 2023
Premium

Image

Kevin Heinrich a licensed practical nurse at a workstation at Mirabella Portland’s skilled nursing facility. Nurses and other health care workers have become increasingly hard to find after the pandemic. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Reactions split on nursing home staffing measure in Oregon

Dozens of Oregonians have commented on new federal rules

Oct 5, 2023
Premium

Image

St. Charles Health System in Bend. | COURTESY OF ST. CHARLES HEALTH

15,000 seniors can keep plans after St. Charles, PacificSource reach deal

Announced shortly before open enrollment begins, the deal affects PacificSource members, but the Central Oregon hospital system has not yet reached Medicare Advantage agreements with Humana, HealthNet and WellCare

Sep 29, 2023

Image

St. Charles Health System in Bend. | COURTESY OF ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

St. Charles Health ‘encouraged’ by Medicare Advantage negotiations

The system says it’s listening to community concerns over care for 26,000 people in Central Oregon

Aug 31, 2023
Premium

Image

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas. | COURTESY OF ANDREA SALINAS

Salinas’ bill would expand federal coverage of behavioral health services

Medicare and Medicaid recipients face barriers to accessing mental health and addiction services

Aug 24, 2023
Premium

Image

AKKALAK AIEMPRADIT/SHUTTERSTOCK

St. Charles may cut ties with Medicare Advantage plans that cover more than 20,000 seniors

Seniors who depend on the Central Oregon health system’s network could face higher premiums and should start researching new plans as open enrollment begins in October.

Aug 14, 2023
Premium

Image

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

‘Ghost’ providers abundant in Oregon, Washington, Senate report finds

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said patients who pay for Medicare Advantage plans can’t reach mental health providers, and vowed to take action

May 4, 2023
Premium

Image

SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon ‘death doulas’ increase in numbers, in Portland and rural areas

As the burgeoning industry begins to take shape, new programs in central Oregon extend end-of-life services to homeless and rural populations

Apr 13, 2023
Premium

Image

A BUS IN OHIO DESIGNED TO LOOK GOVERNMENT-ISSUE INSTEAD REPRESENTED A SALES TACTIC TO MISLEAD THE ELDERLY, ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL REPORT./COURTESY OF U.S. SENATE

Study: Elderly ‘Inundated’ By Aggressive, Misleading Marketing Driven By Medicare Advantage Plans

A new federal report compiles information from 14 states including Oregon to detail aggressive marketing tactics.

Nov 3, 2022
Premium

Image

SHUTTERSTOCK

Amid Heightened Medicare Fraud Concerns, State Consumer Hotline Program Helps

Oregon program received more than 700 reports of fraud or marketing scams in 2021.

Oct 19, 2022
Premium