Search

Clockwise from front left: Sophomores Madison Cailteux, Kaden Davis Young, Samuel Stanley, Jack Von Ammon and Pearl Carter participate in cooperative learning during science class at South Eugene High School on Dec. 11, 2023. | EMILY GREEN/THE LUND REPORT

Trio of bills aims to address Oregon's failure to equip kids with needed tools against drugs

Young Oregonians experience more substance use disorder and fatal overdoses than their counterparts in almost any other state. Officials haven't enforced the law requiring kids get science-based prevention tools, but advocates and lawmakers hope to steer a new course.

Mar 11
Premium

digital illustration of a spiral bacteria against a green background

Syphilis bacterium. | ILLUSTRATION BY JOMAR JUNIOR/PIXABAY

Oregon faces ‘crisis’ in growing number of babies born with syphilis, officials say

Even as overall syphilis numbers go down in the state, more and more babies are being born with it — particularly in rural areas

Mar 11
Premium

SHUTTERSTOCK

Thought inflation was bad? Health insurance premiums are rising even faster

California businesses saw employees’ monthly family insurance premiums rise nearly $1,000 over a 15-year period, more than double the pace of inflation. And employees’ share grew as companies shifted more of the cost to workers.

Mar 11

A large white building with a tall tower and staircase

The Washington State Capitol in Olympia. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Here’s how Congress could push Washington state lawmakers into a special session

Proposed Medicaid cuts could undermine Washington state's budget and force lawmakers into overtime.

Mar 11

SHUTTERSTOCK

Trump health care proposal billed as consumer protection but adds enrollment hoops

The proposal also would reverse a Biden administration policy that allowed “Dreamers” — immigrants in the country illegally who were brought here as children — from qualifying for subsidized ACA coverage.

Mar 11

SHUTTERSTOCK

Price-fixing claims multiply against Regence BlueCross BlueShield, other Blues insurers

The Blues say the allegations are baseless, but suits against them are mounting — with Regence hit with 10 federal suits in 48 hours — as a national $2.8 billion settlement splinters

Mar 6
Premium

ANTONIO GUILLEM/SHUTTERSTOCK

Trump vowed to end surprise medical bills. The office working on that just got slashed.

The Trump administration’s first round of sweeping staff cuts to federal agencies eliminated dozens of positions at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, which is tasked with implementing the No Surprises Act.

Mar 6

SHUTTERSTOCK

To patients, parents, and caregivers, proposed Medicaid cuts are a personal affront

At a town hall in Orange County, California, angry residents said Congress should keep its hands off Medicaid. The cuts contemplated in a House budget blueprint would bore a giant hole in California’s version of the safety net health insurance program, Medi-Cal, which covers nearly 15 million residents.

Mar 6

State Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, chatting before a session of the Oregon House on March 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon budget writers plan to spend hundreds of millions more on health, social services

The new spending, driven in part by a surge in Oregon Health Plan enrollment that state forecasters did not foresee, is part of a “budget rebalance” which the Legislature does before the end of each budget cycle

Mar 6