State Health Policy

Image

The Oregon Health Authority in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Oregon Health Authority Prepares For Potential 20% Budget Cut

The agency is bracing for the next two-year budget, which will be determined by lawmakers next year.

Aug 25, 2020
Premium

Image

Gov. Kate Brown displaying a mask at a May 7, 2020 news conference. | SCREENGRAB VIA YOUTUBE/OREGONIAN/OREGONLIVE

Gov. Brown: COVID-19 Cases Have To Drop For Classes To Reopen

The state could face more restrictions if communities do not quell infection rates.

Aug 21, 2020

Image

Trillium's offices in Eugene. | CHRISTIAN WIHTOL/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon Health Authority Approves Trillium’s Portland-Area Medicaid Application With Caveats

Trillium can start to enroll Oregon Health Plan members in those regions on Sept. 1 but will have to beef up its behavioral health care provider network and meet equity requirements.

Aug 18, 2020
Premium

Image

Oregon State Capitol in Salem. | COURTESY OF OREGON LEGISLATURE

Lawmakers Revise Budget But Cuts Not As Deep As Feared 

Lawmakers who worked to plug the budget hole took a nip-and-tuck approach rather than slash and burn. Still, advocates are worried about behavioral health care funding.

Aug 10, 2020
Premium

Image

Centene-owned Trillium Community Health Plan, long active in Lane County, also serves low-income Oregon Health Plan members in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. | CHRISTIAN WIHTOL/THE LUND REPORT

Trillium’s New Medicaid Application Includes Portland-Area Hospitals

The for-profit Medicaid insurer has contracted with Oregon Health & Science University and Legacy for some services but failed to woo Providence Health & Services.

Aug 7, 2020
Premium

Image

Gov. Kate Brown appointed Linda Roman health policy advisor./Courtesy of Gov. Kate Brown's office

Gov. Brown Appoints New Health Policy Advisor

Aug 4, 2020

Image

Gov. Kate Brown. | JAIME VALDEZ/PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Brown Announces New Restrictions Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases

The rollback includes a new requirement for face coverings in gyms and for children aged 5 and older, and a limit on large indoor gatherings to 100 people compared with 250 right now.

Jul 22, 2020

Image

Shutterstock

Brown’s Behavioral Health Strategy Mired In Chaos, ‘Profound Disappointment’ 

When Brown set up her Behavioral Health Advisory Council in October 2019, advocates and medical professionals had high hopes it would spark meaningful change. Instead, it's turned into a missed opportunity, critics say.

Jul 20, 2020
Premium

Image

Oregon State Capitol in Salem. | RENAUDE HATSEDAKIS

Lawmakers Hope To Protect OHSU, State Hospital, Medicaid In Budget Cuts

Jul 16, 2020

Image

The Oregon Health Authority in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Despite Budget Crunch, Oregon Health Authority Plans 3 New High-Level Behavioral Health Positions

Some state employees question the decision which is part of an overhaul by Steve Allen, who was hired as the agency's behavioral health director last year.

Jul 7, 2020
Premium