Health
Oregon state senator honored for pressing for fixes to Oregon’s foster care system
State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin has been working on child welfare issues for a long time. In 2007, after being elected to the Oregon House for Corvallis, the Democrat sponsored Karly’s Law, which strengthened protections for abused children. In 2015, she was elected to the state Senate, where she spearheaded legislation that makes investigations into […]
Oregon scientists know enough about Omicron to be worried
The latest Covid-19 variant of concern has never appeared in Oregon – ever. Dr. Melissa Sutton, the Oregon Health Authority’s medical director of respiratory viral pathogens, reviewed all of the state’s genome sequencing data on Covid-19 samples last week. She told the Capital Chronicle that none of the samples resembled Omicron. But that’s likely to […]
At-home COVID tests to be covered by insurance—but details still to come
WASHINGTON — State health officials on Thursday welcomed the Biden administration’s plan to require private health insurers to reimburse Americans for the cost of rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests – though the officials also raised questions about whether the process will be burdensome. Making those tests more accessible will allow Americans to get results quickly and […]
State officials step up testing for Omicron variant
State officials said they’re stepping up variant testing to identify Omicron when it arrives in Oregon. The new strain, which was first detected last month in Botswana and then South Africa, turned up in California on Wednesday, and on Thursday three new cases emerged in New York, Minnesota and Colorado. It might only be days […]
Vaccine mandate for health care workers halted nationwide by Louisiana judge
WASHINGTON—A federal judge in Louisiana on Tuesday issued a ruling blocking nationwide the Biden administration mandate requiring millions of health care workers be vaccinated against Covid-19. A suit challenging the mandate was led on behalf of multiple states by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican, and U.S. Judge Terry Doughty granted the states’ request […]
Federal government awards Oregon health providers nearly $120 million
The Biden administration has started to distribute $7.5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to more than 40,000 health care providers in each state and in Washington D.C. and six U.S. territories who’ve been hurt by the pandemic. Nearly $120 million was earmarked for about 480 providers in Oregon. The grants are mostly for hospitals, […]
Oregon health officials work on voluntary digital vaccine card
The Oregon Health Authority plans to offer a digital vaccine card to Oregonians next spring. It is not a passport: The technology is designed as a convenience for people who need to show proof of vaccination on their phone to get into a concert or restaurant, for example. Alarmist rumors circulating on social media about […]
Hundreds still languish in Oregon hospitals, waiting a place to go for continued care
UPDATED: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 at 9:56 a.m. Throughout the pandemic, hundreds of people at any one time have languished for weeks and even months in hospital beds they didn’t need. They should have been in a lower level of care. But nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care and other treatment centers in Oregon have […]
Federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in 10 states blocked by judge
WASHINGTON — Enforcement of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for millions of health care workers was blocked in 10 states on Monday, after a ruling by a federal judge in Missouri. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp affects the states involved in the lawsuit, which include Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and New Hampshire. The […]
Amazon sites, Salem Hospital have longest lasting Covid-19 outbreaks in Oregon – 20 months
Coronavirus cases have dipped recently in Oregon, and widespread outbreaks in long-term care facilities across the state appear to be in the past, at least for now. But outbreaks continue to dog three workplaces in Oregon: Amazon’s warehouse in Troutdale, another Amazon facility in Salem and Salem Hospital. All three appeared in the health authority’s […]
Medical professionals want mental health program extended to Oregon nurses
The pandemic’s been tough on nurses in Oregon. They picked up extra shifts, worked overtime and endured relentless tragedy. Most are mentally exhausted, and many are considering leaving the profession, surveys show. But help is likely on the way. A lawmaker and a group of medical professionals are working to include nurses in a mental […]
Oregon health agency blocked full reporting of potentially fatal disease, whistleblower charges
A former employee in the public health division of the Oregon Health Authority who spearheaded a campaign against a relatively rare occupational lung disease is suing the agency, alleging discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court, seeks $250,000. Lawyers for Crystal Weston, a former program coordinator with the Occupational […]