The Lund Report

About 4,000 Medicare Advantage members have been subjected to alarming warnings about potentially losing coverage of their providers, but a spokesperson for the Yamhill County hospital suggests a deal may be near.

Willamette Valley Medical Center, UnitedHealthcare may be close on contract | The Lund Report About 4,000 Medicare Advantage members have been subjected to alarming warnings about potentially losing coverage of their providers, but a spokesperson for the Yamhill County hospital suggests a deal may be near

Lawmakers on Wednesday heard from mental health advocates who say Oregonians’ mental health needs won’t be met until a law allowing involuntary treatment is put to work.

Oregon civil commitment reforms key to fixing system, advocates say | The Lund Report

Sean Murphy, a top Washington state behavioral health official, has agreed to take over leadership of the Oregon State Hospital, The Lund Report has learned. The institution has gone without a permanent superintendent for more than two years. Journalist Joanne Zuhl has the scoop:

Oregon poised to fill top job at Oregon State Hospital | The Lund Report Sean Murphy, a top Washington state behavioral health official, has agreed to take over as superintendent of the state psychiatric institution

Twenty-five states have laws addressing some aspect of infertility, which affects one in six people, according to the World Health Organization. They include 15 states that require commercial insurers to cover in-vitro fertilization, the most expensive — and often the most successful — treatment.

Oregon is not one of them, though lawmakers have tried five times to get a mandate passed.

They’re not giving up.

Oregon lags many states in passing infertility coverage but lawmakers not giving up | The Lund Report Though infertility is a disease that affects one in six people, it is not mandated to be covered by commercial insurance policies, largely because of cost

A law intended to make it easier to get help for people in need is not having the expected effects, and Oregon lawmakers want to know why.

Oregon’s new civil commitment law is slow to spark change | The Lund Report A law intended to make it easier to get help for people in need is not having the expected effects, and Oregon lawmakers want to know why

People in Tillamook County are trying to elevate their communities’ awareness of death and dying by learning how to support their friends and neighbors through one of the most challenging stages of life.

As rural Oregon ages, communities turn to volunteers for death care | The Lund Report People in Tillamook County are trying to elevate their communities’ awareness of death and dying

Now that a federal judge has placed restrictions on who the Oregon State Hospital can admit and how long they stay, the psychiatric institution is expected to finally satisfy a long-standing court order to keep criminal defendants from languishing in jails.

Oregon State Hospital close to meeting terms in civil rights case | The Lund Report Now that a federal judge has placed restrictions on who the hospital can admit and how long they stay, the psychiatric institution is expected to finally satisfy a long-standing court order to keep criminal defendants from languishing in jails.

Medicaid work requirements are testing state officials' ability to pivot while preserving care for Oregonians. Providers, officials, and advocates agree that collaboration is needed, but tough choices lie ahead as federal changes reduce coverage and hurt access.

Pandemic response holds lessons as Medicaid work rules approach | The Lund Report Providers, officials, advocates agree collaboration is needed, but tough choices lie ahead as federal changes reduce coverage and hurt access

For the second year in a row Oregonians and small businesses face major increases in their costs for coverage. State officials are hosting a public meeting to gather comments as they review proposed rates.

Oregonians' health insurance premiums slated to jump in January — again | The Lund Report For the second year in a row Oregonians and small business face major increases in their costs for coverage. State officials are hosting a public meeting to gather comment as they review proposed rates.

The National Labor Relations Board has directed Asante to stop refusing to negotiate with workers who’ve unionized at Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, saying the Southern Oregon health system had engaged in unfair labor practices.

Feds find Asante violated labor law | The Lund Report The National Labor Relations Board says the southern Oregon health system needs to follow labor law and recognize its workers’ decision three years ago to unionize