State Health Policy

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A COVID-19 VACCINE IS ADMINISTERED AT THE DESCHUTES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN BEND, JANUARY 2021./BRADLEY W. PARKS/OPB

Oregon joins federal suit to block sudden cancellation of $11.4 billion in health grants

The Trump administration cuts would deliver a $117 million hit to Oregon programs set up to combat disease and drug addiction

Apr 1

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A hallway in OHSU's main campus in Portland in September 2024 | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

State review of OHSU takeover of Legacy Health nears recommendation

A review board on Monday will consider whether to recommend state approval of the proposed merger between Oregon Health & Science University and Legacy Health. Critics say the newly dominant health care powerhouse in greater Portland would inevitably jack up costs, but supporters say it would help care.

Mar 28
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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
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ONDŘEJ P. VANĚČEK IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Oregon Death With Dignity prescriptions grew last year as reported deaths declined

Critics feared an increase in ‘death tourism’ after the state dropped its residency requirement, but slightly fewer non-Oregonians used the law to end their lives in 2024.

Mar 27
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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
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BLOGTREPRENEUR/CC BY 2.0)

Longtime Oregon Health Authority equity director sues state over termination

Leann Johnson has filed a federal lawsuit saying she was ‘scapegoated’ and faced retaliation for raising discrimination concerns and questioning agency leadership

Mar 21
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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
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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
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SAMARITAN PACIFIC COMMUNITIES HOSPITAL IN NEWPORT./VISITOR7/CC BY-SA 3.0/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lagging reimbursements from government may mean a merger or new partnership lie in Corvallis-based Samaritan Health’s future

The three-county system has not yet considered specific possibilities for its next move after possibly acquiring Santiam Hospital. But CEO Doug Boysen says ‘all options are on the table’ for Samaritan given a challenging financial landscape that's driving health care restructuring around the state.

Mar 20
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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
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