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A urine sample is displayed at the Comprehensive Pain Specialists laboratory.
A urine sample is displayed at the Comprehensive Pain Specialists laboratory in 2017. The Department of Justice has alleged in a fraud lawsuit that samples like this one were tested excessively, sometimes up to 51 times. CPS denied all allegations and settled the lawsuit without admitting any liability. | HEIDI DE MARCO/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Trump says he’ll stop health care fraudsters. Last time, he let them walk.

In his first term, President Donald Trump granted pardons or clemency to more than 60 convicted fraudsters, including health care executives who defrauded Medicare out of hundreds of millions of dollars, courts and juries found. Now, Trump says cracking down on fraud is a priority
Apr 1
People in the throes of addiction can walk in the front door of Restored Connections Peer Center and get help, whether it be a cup of coffee, a place to feel safe, or a peer counselor to talk to. | TIFFANY ECKERT/KLCC

Walk-in addiction recovery service in Eugene risks shutting after drastic state funding cuts

Addiction treatment services in Oregon are facing a fiscal crunch as a citizen-run oversight council has made sweeping funding cuts. One Eugene-based drop-in recovery center has lost 75% of its budget -- leaving it at risk of closure.
Mar 28
OHSU
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
Premium
A FLU VACCINATION BEING GIVEN./PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PORTLAND TRIBUNE (USED WITH PERMISSION)

Oregon public health programs hit with $117 million in surprise federal cuts

Trump administration's abrupt halt to grants worth $12 billion around the country has state and local agencies contemplating layoffs and cuts to programs combatting diseases such as tuberculous, mpox and the flu
Mar 27
Sen. Deb Patterson
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
Premium
Tents in downtown Portland on March 14, 2022. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Trump turns homelessness response away from housing, toward forced treatment

The Trump administration is moving to end the “Housing First” approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won’t work. But with homelessness rising, President Donald Trump could find allies in blue cities and states as the public clamors for streets to be cleaned up.
Mar 27
The University of Washington is vaccinating frontline health care staff against COVID-19. | COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

$160M in WA health funding axed by Trump administration

Most of the cuts are discontinued grants to the state Department of Health, which will have less money for disease monitoring, vaccines and other functions.
Mar 27

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