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State Behavioral Health Director Ebony Clarke said she thinks the state needs to be audacious and bold when it comes to improving care for low-income Oregonians. | SCREENSHOT, OREGON HEALTH FORUM

Oregon behavioral health fissures add costs and block access, panel says

Oregon's notoriously fragmented system spawns administrative tasks and barriers at the expense of patients and providers, according to a panel of experts who spoke Wednesday
Jun 26, 2024
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The Oregon Health Authority's headquarters in Salem in November, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Firing of Oregon Health Authority diversity chief sparks backlash

Not even six months on the job, agency director Sejal Hathi is grappling with questions and dissension after the unexplained firing of the agency’s strongest voice on equity issues, Leann Johnson
Jun 25, 2024
The Oregon Health Authority headquarters in Salem | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon Health Authority equity director fired

Leann Johnson was terminated after more than decade working at the state, including eight years as head of a division charged with overseeing internal workplace complaints
Jun 21, 2024
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Nurses and other health care workers along with their supporters took to the picket lines outside Providence Portland Medical Center in June 2023 as the state’s largest nurses union called a five-day strike. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Updated: Providence, nurses union trade barbs as strike launches at six hospitals

As largest-ever Oregon hospital strike begins, the hospital system says the union endangers patients by trying to cut off access to supplies and temporary workers; union calls complaint ironic
Jun 14, 2024
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Multnomah County worked to vaccinate people of color and people experiencing homelessness. | MOTOYA NAKAMURA/MULTNOMAH COUNTY

Oregon interpreter rules hurt health care access, group says

The group of medical directors representing organizations that oversee care to 1.3 million Oregonians say state rules are hurting access to crucial medical interpreter services and fueling health care inequities
Jun 13, 2024
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The emergency department at Legacy Good Samaritan hospital in Portland on July 30, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Lawsuit over state's failure to provide psychiatric care can proceed, court rules

Federal appeals judges sided with Oregon hospitals and overturned a lower court ruling, but questioned whether a prime mover in Oregon State Hospital litigation — the advocacy group Disability Rights Oregon — can simultaneously represent two groups of patients with conflicting interests
Jun 5, 2024
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Gov. Tina Kotek speaks to reporters at a press event in April 2023 in Salem. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Kotek behavioral health presentation leaves questions unanswered

On Wednesday lawmakers heard about the governor’s plans to address Oregon’s crisis in mental health and substance use disorder, but some detail was lacking
May 30, 2024
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Pictured, a team at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford cared for a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit during the pandemic. | MICHAEL BLUMHARDT/ASANTE HEALTH

Health care spending in Oregon grew later in pandemic

New report tallies growth in spending that lagged overall inflation, showing impact of efforts to address spread of virus
May 28, 2024
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