The Lund Report

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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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COURTESY CDC

Cases of whooping cough are spreading rapidly across nine Oregon counties

Officials are encouraging people to get vaccinated, as infants are particularly vulnerable and many youths are unprotected

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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The Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in downtown Portland, Oregon. | COURTESY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lawsuit accusing Oregon firm of pharmacy conspiracy appealed

Federal judges disagree over a lawsuit alleging Portland-based LegitScript worked with regulators and the pharmaceutical industry to keep drug prices high and hurt a New York company's business

May 28, 2024
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Emma Sandoe will head the state program providing free health care to 1 in 3 Oregonians. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Updated: Emma Sandoe named as next director of Oregon's Medicaid program

Sandoe hails from North Carolina's program where Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi also had worked for a time. Sandoe will bring a national reputation while heading the $28-billion Oregon Health Plan providing free health care to 1.4 million low-income people.

May 23, 2024
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Dr. Alison Edelman is an OBGYN at Oregon Health & Science University who specializes in family planning, including contraception and abortion. | COURTESY OF DR. ALISON EDELMAN

Post-Dobbs, Oregon doc says it’s time to ‘stand up’ and talk about abortion care

Portland OBGYN says she and her team are proud to offer ‘non-judgmental’ care to patients, including those who come to Oregon seeking a legal abortion

May 23, 2024
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U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, center, speaks about the multibillion-dollar advertising campaigns on behalf of Medicare Advantage plans during an event Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, sponsored by the Urban League of Portland at the Hattie Redmond Apartments in North Portland. | PETER WONG/©PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP USED HERE WITH PERMISSION

Wyden wants to know how Pfizer cut its U.S. tax bill despite booming sales

Pifzer is the latest company to come under scrutiny by the Senate Finance Committee and Oregon’s senior U.S. senator as they look into pharmaceutical company tax practices

May 23, 2024
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Independent Santiam hospital seeks to join Samaritan Health Services

Nonprofit Stayton hospital would merge into Corvallis chain

May 23, 2024
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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

New report too rosy about Oregon’s nursing homes, their lobbying group says

A new study ranks Oregon among the states best-positioned to meet new federal staffing rules for nursing homes. But a state lobbying group says it glosses over a new requirement of of 24-hour nurse coverage that will be tough to meet

May 21, 2024
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SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon should do more to fix fractured behavioral health system, report finds

The state’s failure to provide the sort of treatment considered the most effective ends up increasing costs elsewhere in the system, according to researchers

May 21, 2024
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