The Lund Report

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Clockwise, from left to right: Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran, moderator and Portland Axios reporter Emily Harris, Providence Health Chief Executive of Behavioral Health Robin Henderson, Portland Street Response Interim Program Manager Lielah Leighton, Jonathan Mroz of Central City Concern, Multnomah Circuit Judge Nan Waller discussed promising approaches to improve behavioral health care in Portland. | SCREENSHOT, OREGON HEALTH FORUM

Decisive action could help Portland's dysfunctional behavioral health system, experts say

An Oregon Health Forum panel agreed that action and urgency could significantly improve care for people experiencing mental health crisis and addiction in Oregon's largest city

Nov 16, 2023

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COURTESY PHOTO

Key Multnomah County mental health diversion unit ‘in shambles’

The nationally acclaimed program is foundering amid a tripled workload, fear of violence and staff departures

Nov 14, 2023

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Oregon legislators discuss upcoming changes to Measure 110 at the Oregon State of Reform conference in Portland on Nov. 14, 2023. From left to right: Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland; Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Stayton; and Rep. Thuy Tran, D-Portland. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon lawmakers preview possible fixes to Measure 110 in upcoming session

Public drug use and prosecution of drug dealers could be on the table, as well as reinstating criminal penalties and scrapping a controversial oversight council

Nov 14, 2023
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CareOregon. | COURTESY OF CAREOREGON

More public-comment meetings slated for proposed CareOregon/SCAN merger

Details on potential effects of the pending deal remain hazy as a California nonprofit Medicare insurer moves toward absorption of a major provider of health care to low-income Oregonians

Nov 14, 2023

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Protest signs were placed by the Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center's entrance during a vigil for the birth center's closure on March 17, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Women’s health workers at Legacy push for union

Citing the attempted closure of the Mount Hood birth center and other developments, about 60 nurses and other health professionals are the latest to organize at the health system

Nov 10, 2023
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Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in southwest Portland. | M.O. STEVENS/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

State's billing probe of Providence Health continues

Oregon Department of Justice investigation of alleged improper billing of low-income people remains open 13 months later

Nov 9, 2023
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STEFAN SCHWEIHOFER/PIXABAY

Oregon residential care facilities say a new law is making them look bad

The number of facilities in Oregon with red flags on their license has tripled in the last two years, but lobbyists say they are technical violations

Nov 9, 2023
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Oregon State Hospital in Salem. | OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Judge’s psychiatric discharge deadlines spawned ‘legal limbo,’ service gaps, locals say

Efforts to fix a bottleneck at Oregon State Hospital have increased problems elsewhere, local officials told lawmakers Wednesday

Nov 8, 2023
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Dr. Sejal Hathi, 33, in January takes over as director of the Oregon Health Authority, an agency that oversees care to more than 1.3 million low-income people. | SCREENSHOT VIA THE LUND REPORT

Q&A: Incoming Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi on Measure 110, delivery reforms

The former White House advisor supports the drug decriminalization law’s goals but says she’ll work with law enforcement and others on implementation

Nov 7, 2023
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Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center's Century High School clinic in in Hillsboro, Oregon. | ©PORTLAND TRIBUNE, REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION

Oregon lawmakers to push for in-school medical center funding

With mental health issues among adolescents on the rise, advocates say school-based health centers need more funding

Nov 7, 2023
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