Latest news with #OregonHealthAuthority
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal judge dings OHA, OSH over failure to quickly admit aid-and-assist patients
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Federal officials have penalized Oregon health leaders for 'failing to protect' members of the public. On Friday, Marion County reported that U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson hit the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon State Hospital with a 'contempt finding' after determining they had violated the U.S. Constitution. The two agencies will also be forced to pay fines. Secret indictment reveals more details about Gresham teacher suspected of child sex crimes Disability Rights of Oregon alleged the state failed to adhere to a permanent injunction from 2003 that requires OSH to admit defendants within seven days after authorities determine they are unfit to stand trial. DRO claimed several 'aid-and-assist patients' have been held in jail for up to 50 days, and at least two individuals died while waiting to be transported to the state hospital. Both the Salem psychiatric facility and the agency behind it have been under fire for years now. Earlier in March, OHA announced the Joint Commission preliminarily stripped the hospital of its accreditation after a to the health and safety of patients. OSH has also been placed in immediate jeopardy status several times. And according to DRO, Judge Nelson said the state has been 'persistently out of compliance' with the longstanding permanent injunction. County officials have highlighted the public health agency's 2024 report, which found it was in need of hundreds of new behavioral health treatment beds. Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs sickens dozens across 7 states 'Marion County applauds these fines designed to force Oregon State Hospital to finally get serious about providing the desperately needed mental health care that Oregon law requires and that is needed to protect public safety,' Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell said in a statement. KOIN 6 has reached out to OHA for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Oregon lawmakers hold hearing on Medicaid cuts under Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill'
PORTLAND, Ore. () – As President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' makes its way through the Senate, Oregon lawmakers held a hearing on Tuesday, detailing the impact proposed Medicaid cuts under the bill could have on Oregon. Republicans' reconciliation bill includes at least $880 billion in spending cuts, largely to Medicaid, to cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, as reported by , noting Republicans are pushing for the spending cuts to root out 'waste, fraud and abuse.' On Tuesday, the Oregon Senate Committee on Health Care held a with representatives from the Oregon Health Authority, health care clinics and health care consumers to learn more about what the cuts to Medicaid could mean for Oregon. FBI: Teen's plan for mass shooting at Washington state mall leads to arrest Emma Sandoe, the Medicaid director for the Oregon Health Authority, was among those who testified at the hearing. According to Sandoe, Congress is mostly addressing spending cuts to Medicaid by aiming to reduce the number of people enrolled in the program. The Oregon Health Plan — Oregon's Medicaid program — insures 1.4 million people in the state, or about 33% of the state's population, Sandoe said. Medicaid covers a variety of services for nearly half of all births in Oregon along with long-term health services and coverage for people with disabilities. Class action lawsuit accuses Grocery Outlet of deceptive pricing in Oregon stores Under the 'big, beautiful bill,' upwards of 100,000 Oregonians could lose Medicaid coverage, according to Sandoe, noting the bill could lead to at least $1 billion in Medicaid cuts to Oregon in the 2027-2029 biennium. Those payments support hospitals, clinics and health care providers. Medicaid cuts in the state would especially harm Oregonians and health care providers in rural counties, Sandoe said. 'For example, in Eastern Oregon, Malheur County for instance, 51% of the population is enrolled in Medicaid. So, providers in those counties rely heavily on Medicaid funding and if those providers aren't able to stay in business, not only does it impact the 51% of people that have Medicaid coverage, it also impacts the 49% of people that rely on other health insurance coverage to see those providers in that area,' Sandoe explained. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'When more people have coverage, it's not just good for the people who are enrolled, it is good for the whole system,' Sandoe told the committee. 'People covered are able to treat disease earlier, and providers are able to be paid for the health care services they deliver. This keeps providers in business for everyone.' During Sandoe's presentation to the health care committee, she explained several changes the federal bill would make, including adding new work requirements. The bill proposes requiring states to verify 80 hours of work activities per month for Medicaid applications and renewals twice per year. This would be required for people ages 19-64 in the Medicaid expansion group starting December 31, 2026. For Oregon, this means up to 462,000 Oregonians — many of whom work — could face additional red tape to keep their health care coverage, according to Sandoe, adding that 100,000-200,000 Oregonians could lose Medicaid coverage because of challenges demonstrating that they meet the work requirements. Tillamook opens first owned-and-operated facility outside of Oregon Additionally, the bill would require copays. This would be a change for Oregon, which has not charged copays since 2017, Sandoe explained, noting, 'copays of any dollar amount can be detrimental for Medicaid patients, preventing patients from getting needed medical care or consistent access to their prescription drugs.' The 'big, beautiful bill' also proposes stripping Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood clinics. According to Sandoe, this could lead to clinic closures in Oregon, noting tens of thousands of people could lose access to birth control, cancer screenings and abortion care provided by Planned Parenthood. The bill would also prohibit Medicaid funds from covering some healthcare services. National Geographic names Oregon Coast train ride among 'dreamiest' for stargazing Today, Oregon law requires the Oregon Health Plan and private health insurance plans to cover medically necessary gender-affirming care. However, the federal proposal would ban Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for people of all ages and private insurers would no longer be required to cover this type of care – putting access to gender-affirming care at risk for more than 7,000 Oregonians, according to Sandoe. The OHA Medicare director warns these cuts to Medicaid could end up costing taxpayers more in the end. 'When we have instances that providers go out of business or — for example, (federally qualified health centers) or other providers that provide primary care services — then we're not able to do what we do really well in Oregon which is to ensure that we're treating the person early in their health care conditions before it becomes at a stage of needing higher costs and ultimately when a person is sick, they end up using the health care system in some capacity and having that higher cost does cost everyone more if it's uncompensated care.' Drug trafficker sentenced to 15 years in prison after largest meth bust in Oregon history Following the hearing, Committee Chair Deb Patterson (D-Salem) released a statement, saying, 'More than 1.4 million Oregonians have Oregon Health Plan coverage funded by Medicaid, and it's clear from the testimony today that slashing the program will have serious impacts on that population and well beyond. Patterson added, 'Our rural hospitals and clinics will lose funding, decreased staffing could make appointments harder to get, and people who are forced to delay care will face worse health outcomes.' The proposed budget bill passed the House on May 22 and is now being considered in the Senate. President Trump said he wants the bill passed by July 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
New Ruling Moves Oregon Closer to Legal In-Home Psilocybin Use
A lawsuit seeking the development of in-home psilocybin services for individuals with disabilities in Oregon will continue after a U.S. district court denied a motion to dismiss on May 30. The case could set an important precedent for future drug laws and accessibility for all Americans, including those with disabilities. In 2020, 56 percent of Oregonians voted in favor of the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act (Measure 109), which directed the Oregon Health Authority to license and regulate psilocybin products and services for individuals aged 21 and older. While a handful of cities in the U.S. had previously decriminalized psilocybin, Oregon was the first state to both decriminalize and create a legal regulatory framework for its supervised use. After two years of rule drafting, the OHA began accepting applications in 2023 for licensed psilocybin service centers, which are regulated facilities where psilocybin can be administered. Rather than focus on selling a product, service centers are geared toward health and wellness and are designed to offer support before, during, and after psilocybin use by licensed service facilitators. This model opened up psilocybin use for most Oregon residents but makes accessing psilocybin services impossible for individuals unable to leave home because of a disability. To fix this oversight in the law, four practitioners licensed by the state to guide people through psilocybin experiences have alleged that the current OHA process fails to reasonably accommodate those with disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Cusker et al v. OHA was filed after the OHA denied the plaintiffs' request for a process to be developed for in-home psilocybin services to people with disabilities who are unable to visit service centers. In response to the request, state attorneys argued that "there is no legal pathway to make accommodations for psilocybin to be consumed outside of a licensed service center" and that Measure 109 "would need to be amended for accommodations to be permitted." Although the measure only allows the use of psilocybin under facilitator supervision at a service center—which has to comply with specific location requirements, including stipulations prohibiting a center from being located within "the limits of an incorporated city or town" or in areas "zoned exclusively for residential use"—others believe the OHA has the authority and flexibility needed to interpret the language consistent with ADA requirements. But the OHA has declined to address the issue through rule making. The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon since the claim revolves around the OHA violating the ADA, a federal law. While psilocybin was decriminalized and legally regulated under Oregon law, it remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. The OHA filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the federal court lacked jurisdiction to decide the case because plaintiffs were asking the court to violate both state and federal law. The federal court would have to order the OHA to break federal law if it required the agency to produce, possess, or administer a Schedule I drug. The OHA also argued that the court would have to order a violation of Oregon's Controlled Substances Act if it required the agency to dispense psilocybin outside of a service center. Ultimately, the court denied the OHA's motion to dismiss, relying on case law involving a non-ADA-compliant marijuana dispensary. In Smith v. 116 S Market LLC (2020), Michael Smith, who is paraplegic, encountered difficulty accessing a dispensary due to a lack of accessible parking spaces, uneven ground between the parking lot and entry, and a noncompliant ramp. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Smith, granting him $4,000 in statutory damages for each encounter, under the rationale that the decision did not force the dispensary owner to distribute a Schedule I drug but merely required ADA compliance—which does not violate federal law. By adopting this reasoning, Cusker will be able to move forward. The post New Ruling Moves Oregon Closer to Legal In-Home Psilocybin Use appeared first on
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Republican tax bill could slash billions for Oregon Health Plan, state officials say
A person holds a "Protect Medicaid" sign in front of Oregon State Capital in Salem on May 1, 2025. (Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle) A Republican tax bill passed in the U.S. House and headed for a vote in the Senate would slash billions in federal Medicaid funding across the country — leaving an outsized mark on states like Oregon that offer health care policies centered on inclusivity. The state relies on more than $11 billion in federal funding each year to cover about 75% of its Medicaid program, known as the Oregon Health Plan. That funding could be more than cut in half if the Republican tax bill passes, according to Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. State officials say the bill also has the potential to leave hundreds of thousands of low-income Oregonians without health insurance. Republicans behind the bill say it will deliver large tax cuts, increase immigration security and impose welfare reform. Oregon leaders have called the bill financially irresponsible and a way to punish states that provide Medicaid regardless of citizenship status, and to patients seeking gender-affirming care and reproductive health care, including abortion. Oregon Health Plan benefits have not changed at this time, and the Oregon Health Authority is still assessing the bill's potential impacts, agency spokesperson Amy Bacher told the Capital Chronicle. One in three Oregonians are enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan. This includes more than half of the state's kids, as well as seniors who rely on Medicaid-funded nursing home support and individuals with caregiving needs. The bill would mandate that twice a year state officials verify all adults enrolled in Medicaid have worked or participated in community service for at least 80 hours each month. These requirements would create unnecessary paperwork burdens for low-income people already working, and disincentivize people from enrolling, resulting in 100,000 to 200,000 Oregonians losing their insurance for not complying with the policy, Oregon Health Authority's Medicaid director, Emma Sandoe, told the Oregon Senate Health Care Committee on Tuesday afternoon. 'When people lose coverage, that also means reduced federal dollars coming into Oregon,' Sandoe said. The work requirements alone could reduce federal funding by $1.4 billion per year, she said. Over 10 years, that would result in a loss of up to $16 billion in federal funding for the Oregon Health Plan. These estimates do not include additional funding cuts caused by other provisions in the bill. Another provision of the bill would prohibit federal funds from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, from going toward gender transition procedures for minors. Beginning in 2026, that prohibition would expand to adults. LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non LGBTQ+ adults to have Medicaid as their primary source of insurance, according to the Williams Institute at University of California, Los Angeles. About 7,000 Oregonians use Medicaid to receive gender-affirming care, Sandoe said. LGBTQ+ advocates in Oregon said the bill is another aggressive step from the Trump administration to target transgender Americans. 'If this bill passes, more transgender people will die,' Blair Stenvick, a spokesperson for the nonprofit advocacy group Basic Rights Oregon, told the Capital Chronicle. 'Gender-affirming care costs are a minuscule fraction of all Medicaid costs, and singling out transgender people — both youth and adults — is an intentional, ideological move from a fascist government obsessed with controlling people's bodies and personal decisions at all costs.' The federal government would match 80% rather than 90% of Oregon's Medicaid funding unless the state ends its program insuring people regardless of citizenship status. That drop in matching funds would amount to a $1 billion loss each year, Sandoe told the committee. Oregon is one of seven states that offers Medicaid to eligible adults regardless of immigration status and one of 14 states, plus Washington, D.C., that covers children regardless of immigration status. In 2017, the state passed a 'Cover All Kids' program to extend Oregon Health Plan benefits to children regardless of immigration status. In 2022, the state allowed all eligible adults regardless of their immigration status access to health coverage through 'Healthier Oregon.' About 100,000 people are enrolled in the program. The bill would prohibit Medicaid reimbursement for 10 years to organizations that provide abortions. Federal funding for abortion has been prohibited for decades under the Hyde Amendment, but the bill would block organizations like Planned Parenthood and other nonprofit providers from receiving reimbursements for other reproductive health services, such as family planning and cancer screenings. There are 12 Planned Parenthood centers in Oregon, Sandoe said, providing pap smears, cervical and breast cancer screenings and STD treatments, among other services to mostly low-income Oregonians. About 70% of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette patients use Medicaid, the nonprofit's CEO and President Sara Kennedy told the committee. The nonprofit operates clinics in Vancouver, Washington, the Portland metro area, Salem, Bend and Ontario. 'Abortion access will absolutely suffer,' she said, noting that only 10% of patients visiting the nonprofit receive abortions. Planned Parenthood affiliates in Oregon already operate with a budget deficit because Medicaid reimbursement rates do not cover the full costs of providing care, she said. The federal bill would only exacerbate the nonprofit's deficit. 'If this bill passes, cancers will go undetected and untreated,' she said. 'Pregnancies will become more dangerous — not just for Planned Parenthood patients — but for our entire population, and that is even here in a state that has incredible protections for reproductive health care.' The bill would also cap or freeze the taxes states can impose on medical providers — a strategy all states except Alaska use to increase the number of state dollars for Medicaid that can then be matched by federal dollars. States rely on provider taxes to fund 17% of their Medicaid spending, according to most recent data available from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Republicans target a tax that keeps state Medicaid programs running In March, Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill into law extending its taxes on medical providers through 2032. These taxes fund about a quarter of the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. 'States will be forced to take on a larger share of the burden of paying for Medicaid — an impossible task, given that Oregon is already dealing with a budget deficit,' Oregon's U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat representing the state's 6th Congressional District, told the Capital Chronicle. All five of Oregon's Democratic U.S. House Representatives opposed the bill. Oregon's sole Republican congressman, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, representing the state's 2nd District, voted in favor of the bill. Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, said the stakes for the bill are 'truly life and death' for Americans. 'Taking away health insurance and benefits like home care and mental health care from seniors, people with disabilities, kids, and working families will be deadly,' he said in a news release. 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Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oregon overdose deaths have gone down, but they're still high
While strengthened substance use treatment infrastructure, naloxone distribution and changes in the national fentanyl supply are contributing to the decrease in overdose deaths, Oregon's overdose deaths rates are still too high, Oregon Public Health state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger said. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Overdose deaths in Oregon went down 22% in 2024, the Oregon Health Authority announced on Friday. The decrease in overdose deaths follows a nationwide trend of declining overdose deaths. In 2024, there were about 80,400 drug overdose deaths in the country — 26.9% fewer than the 110,000 overdose deaths in 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While strengthened substance use treatment infrastructure, naloxone distribution and education, prevention programs and changes in fentanyl supply are contributing to the decrease in overdose deaths, Oregon's overdose deaths rates are still too high, Oregon Public Health state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger said in a news release. Substance use and overdose deaths remain a public health crisis in Oregon. The 1,480 overdose deaths in Oregon in 2024 were still more than overdose deaths rates during the pre-pandemic years. 'We must continue to work together to keep people safe and build treatment and recovery support for people struggling with substance use disorder,' Sidelinger said. The state of Oregon aims to decrease overdose death rates by investing in: Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse: This program is working to respond to the fentanyl crisis. It provides more than 360 agencies and organizations in Oregon with no-cost naloxone, infection prevention and wound care kits. Opioid treatment programs: There are 27 opioid treatment programs in Oregon, two medication units and four mobile units. Oregon also expanded telehealth for medications for opioid use disorder. Increasing residential treatment capacity: The state of Oregon is developing 260 beds dedicated to substance use disorder services and 41 beds dedicated to withdrawal management. Peer support systems: Under these programs, individuals in Oregon struggling with substance use receive support, guidance and encouragement from individuals who have experience with recovery. Behavioral Health Regional Networks: Funded through cannabis tax revenue and the Drug Treatment and Recovery Services Funds which accounted for $414 million between 2022-2025, these networks provide screening and assessment, harm reduction, housing, substance use disorder treatment and employment services. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
