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Oregon Health Authority will distribute $31 million to organizations to fight health inequities
The Oregon Health Authority will give $31 million to nonprofits, churches and other community organizations to reduce health care inequities in the state. The grants aim to help the hundreds of thousands of Oregonians who identify as people of color or those with disabilities, have no permanent home, belong to a tribe, are elderly or […]
Health care spending accounts for one-quarter of household expenditures in Oregon, study says
Health care costs account for nearly one-quarter of household spending in Oregon, according to a new report from the Oregon Health Authority. The report, published this week, said that at 23% of expenses, health care is the single biggest household expenditure for Oregonians, followed by housing, utilities and fuel. Insurance premiums and deductibles, which consumers […]
Oregon’s congressional delegation calls for renewal of firefighting agreement with feds
In a rare display of unity, all seven members of Oregon’s congressional delegation appealed to the U.S. Department of the Interior on Tuesday to renew a century-old agreement on managing wildfires in Oregon. The agreement covers wildfire protection on federal land in western Oregon through financial arrangements, resource sharing, planning and joint activities. The area […]
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is the latest member of Congress to test positive for Covid
Oregon’s senior U.S. senator, Ron Wyden, tested positive for Covid on Tuesday. On Twitter and in a news release, he said the infection was caught during routine testing. He’s experiencing “minor symptoms” and is working from his residence in Washington, D.C., the statements said. He will quarantine according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]
Opponents of proposed Foster Farms chicken plants ask state for ban
Environmentalists, small farm advocates and local residents are pursuing a new tactic in their opposition to two industrial chicken plants planned for an area southeast of Salem. They asked the state to ban large livestock operations on fertile farmland – everywhere in Oregon. The advocacy groups Willamette Riverkeeper and the Center for Food Safety, and […]
Parents, recovery advocates call for immediate Oregon action on addiction crisis
Moms and others concerned about addiction rallied in Portland on Saturday, calling for the Oregon Health Authority to take effective and immediate action against substance use. They included a father who lost his son two years ago after he consumed a counterfeit opioid pill he bought online that was laced with fentanyl. They included a […]
State funding $3 million in projects to improve lives of elderly, those with disabilities
The Department of Human Services is looking for proposals to improve the quality of life for elderly people and those with disabilities across the state. It will allocate $3 million to the projects, hoping to reach a broad array of the population, including those who have difficulty accessing services. Two-thirds of the money will be […]
Interested in helping Medicaid patients? The state seeks applicants for a workgroup
Oregonians interested in creating strategies to keep and retain people on Medicaid can apply to a new workgroup the state is forming. It seeks 12 volunteers, from a union representative to individuals who’ve lost Medicaid coverage to take part in the year-long workgroup. They will meet twice a month in May and June, then monthly […]
Secretary of State reissuing second voters’ guide in Washington County to correct omissions
The Secretary of State’s Office will reissue Voters’ Pamphlets for Washington County after leaving out statements from four candidates in versions already sent to voters. The agency said Thursday that the pamphlets it sent out omitted statements for four Democratic state representatives running in the May election: Rep. Courtney Neron, who is seeking re-election in […]
Oregon needs more financial aid for nursing students and more educators, experts say
More scholarship money and perhaps tax credits would help stem Oregon’s nursing shortage, according to nursing students and deans of Oregon nursing schools. In an one-hour online discussion on Wednesday, they told U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, that having enough money to pay for housing, food and other necessities and pay for their education is […]
Former Oregon Health Authority worker accused of embezzling $1.5 million in federal Covid funding
An Oregon Health Authority employee who processed requests for vendor payments has been indicted for embezzling nearly $1.5 million, state officials said Wednesday. A Marion County grand jury indicted Marzieh Abedin of Portland on 21 criminal counts, including theft, forgery, identity theft and computer crime – all felonies, according to a statement from Attorney General […]
Oregon medical providers rely on diminishing number of out-of-state nurses, study finds
Thousands of patients in rural areas of the state might not get high quality medical care in the future if the number of out-of-state nurses practicing in Oregon continues to fall, according to a new study. The research found that rural health care settings are the most reliant on out-of-state nurses, putting them at higher […]