Latest news with #Oregonian
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill enacting nation's strictest limits on corporate health care influence signed by Gov. Kotek
A doctor works at a pharmacy. Corporate investors eyeing local health care facilities in Oregon could soon face one of the hardest markets nationwide. () Corporate investors hoping to take over local health care facilities in Oregon could soon face one of the hardest markets nationwide. Senate Bill 951, which was quietly signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday, sets the strongest regulations on private and corporate control of medical practices in the nation, according to industry lawyers. A similar effort failed in the Legislature last year amid pushback from Republicans that prevented the bill from meeting key legislative deadlines. The governor told reporters at a news conference Monday that the bill should be a model for other states and for Congress. 'We need to make sure that our health care providers and our delivery system stays local and is controlled locally,' she said. 'That's what that bill is trying to do.' The legislation was opposed by companies such as Amazon and the statewide nonprofit Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, an industry group, where executives see private investment as vital to their business strategy. 'We universally agree that the way to protect clinics from closure and maintain the broadest patient access to outpatient care is to keep the existing, and multi-ownership models alive and well,' wrote Ryan Grimm on behalf of the association and the Portland Clinic, a private multispecialty medical group, in a March letter to lawmakers. 'In some communities, there is no hospital to swoop in to the rescue, or no hospital in a financial position to save a clinic,' he wrote. The bill does not go into effect immediately and it contains a three-year adjustment period for clinics to comply with the restrictions. Institutions such as hospitals, tribal health facilities, behavioral health programs and crisis lines are exempted. 'We're at an inflection point in this country when it comes to the corporatization of healthcare,' wrote House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, in a statement May 28 following the bill's passage in the Oregon House. 'With the passage of this bill, every Oregonian will know that decisions in exam rooms are being made by doctors, not corporate executives.' The signature from Kotek deals a major victory to local providers and doctors, who sought to wrest back control over their practices in key decisions such as spending, staffing levels, physician ownership stake, and the price of services. The legislation would close what supporters say is a loophole in state law, which mandates that doctors hold at least a 51% stake in most medical practices, but which companies have taken advantage of by employing their own doctors — sometimes from out of state — and putting them down on paper as clinic owners. Then the company itself, or a hired management service, is brought in to handle payroll, accounting and other services, shifting away control and revenues from the clinic to the company, and from what was once a locally operated business. The bill limits the control such companies can have in a clinic's operations and would ban noncompete agreements used by companies to prohibit doctors from taking a job at a different practice. Support for the bill coalesced around the takeover of the Eugene-based Oregon Medical Group by the health care giant Optum, one of the nation's largest employers of physicians. The surrounding area lost dozens of doctors, leaving over 10,000 people without care, according to a Frequently Asked Question's document from Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, after Optum required its doctors to sign non-compete contracts. Optum reversed course after pressure from lawmakers in May 2024. 'This bill is about preventing the kind of takeover that happened at the Oregon Medical Group in Eugene,' wrote state Rep. Lisa Fragala, D-Eugene, in a May statement. 'When we see consolidation in the healthcare market, we see three things happen: higher prices, negative effects on the quality of care and decreased access to care.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former school superintendent, nurse from King City tapped for vacant House District 26 seat
The Oregon House of Representatives on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Former school superintendent Sue Rieke Smith of King City joined the body as a representative following a Friday vote by three county commissions. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) After nearly a month without representation in the Oregon House, Oregonians in Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill counties have a new state representative: former nurse and school district superintendent Sue Rieke Smith. Rieke Smith, of King City, will begin immediately in the Oregon Legislature following her appointment Friday in a 10-1 vote at a joint session of the three county commissions. She fills the seat vacated by former state Rep. Courtney Neron, a Democrat, who was appointed in early May to the Oregon Senate after the death of state Sen. Aaron Woods, also a Democrat, who represented the three counties. Oregon law requires county commissioners within a legislative district boundary to appoint a new representative within 30 days of an unexpected vacancy. The appointee must be from the same political party as the outgoing legislator. Rieke Smith's appointment to represent the more than 70,000 Oregonians in the district of mostly non affiliated voters lasts until January 2027, but she has the option of running for the seat in 2026 for a full two-year term. 'I'm a third-generation Oregonian, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. I assure you that if I'm selected, this Oregonian is ready to go to work,' Rieke Smith told commissioners Friday in her opening remarks. Prior to her appointment, she spent 25 years as a teacher, administrator and superintendent in public schools in Springfield and Tigard-Tualatin. She retired as superintendent of Tigard-Tualatin schools in 2024 after six years leading the district, among the largest in Oregon. The departure came amid growing strife over student behavior and tardiness. Before working in education, Rieke Smith was a travel nurse and public health professional, working in intensive care units. She's a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, in Tacoma, Washington, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Oregon. Rieke Smith was one of three candidates nominated by the Oregon Democratic Party. Other nominees included Chelsea King, executive director of the Wilsonville-based nonprofit Oregon Health and Education Collaborative, and Mary Pettenger, a professor of politics, policy and administration at Western Oregon University. At the joint session of the county commissions, Rieke Smith answered questions about her positions on issues related to public education, senior citizens, civil liberties, housing, public safety and the justice system. She expressed support for several bills currently being considered in the current legislative session. Among them was Senate Bill 974, which would hasten housing efforts and ease some residential development and land use regulations. In response to concerns about a bill lawmakers are considering that would extend unemployment benefits to striking workers, Senate Bill 916, Rieke Smith said she recognized workers' right to strike and acknowledged potential challenges the bill could pose, vowing to seek further information about the bill's fiscal impact. 'I will not be a flamethrower, I will not engage in name-calling or finger-pointing or demonizing at someone's position,' she said in her closing remarks at the Friday meeting. 'I will be intellectually curious and seek to understand and reach across the aisle to make better policy for all.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kotek launches council to address Oregon's behavioral health workforce crisis
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Amid a shortage in Oregon's behavioral health workforce, Governor Tina Kotek is launching a council in hopes of finding ways to adequately staff services for Oregonians facing mental health challenges and addiction. On Tuesday, the governor's office unveiled the Behavioral Health Talent Council, a group of 22 experts tasked with strategizing ways to address the state's behavioral health workforce crisis. The council will be led by , who will serve as the council's chair, along with three vice chairs including, New Narrative CEO Julie Ibrahim, Bridgeway Community Services Director of Operations Eli Kinsley and Southern Oregon University Behavioral Health Initiative Director Robin Sansing. DON'T MISS: Oregon needs 'urgent action' against behavioral health crisis, audit finds According to the governor's office, the Behavioral Health Talent Council will create a recommended workforce action plan by January 31, 2026, which will build on recommendations from a recent assessment commissioned by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. 'Every Oregonian deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare, including mental health and addiction services,' Kotek said in a press release Tuesday. 'The lack of mental health and addiction professionals in Oregon threatens that vision, particularly for our most vulnerable communities. This council will go deeper into the issue and develop solutions that will strengthen our behavioral health system and improve access to care across the state.' 'I'm committed to helping Oregonians in every corner of our state access the healthcare they need when they need it,' added First Lady Kotek Wilson. 'As a social worker who has worked in the field, I've seen firsthand how workforce shortages affect both providers and patients. Through this council, I'm honored to bring experts together to prioritize practical, actionable solutions that address recruitment challenges, reduce turnover, and build pathways for a more diverse and prepared workforce.' New toxic algae in the Columbia River linked to 2 dog deaths, Clark County warns According to the governor's office, the council has four main goals. These include addressing the worker shortage, preventing turnover, increasing competency and diversity in the workforce and improving recruitment and retention for providers serving Oregon Health Plan members. 'The recommended plans we develop must be informed by the realities faced by providers and clients alike,' Kinsley said. 'My time as a practitioner has taught me that effective behavioral health systems require both structural support and community connection. I look forward to bringing my personal lived experience and professional journey to help create pathways that strengthen Oregon's behavioral health workforce in ways that truly serve our diverse communities.' The council comes after the Behavioral Health Talent Assessment found key factors that are driving the workforce crisis. This includes shortages of qualified workers, especially in rural areas, along with recruitment and retention challenges and high turnover rates based on low pay, safety concerns, high caseloads and insufficient support systems. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The council, which is hosting its first meeting on May 28, will provide regular updates about their work, officials said. The creation of a council focused on addressing the state's behavioral health workforce crisis follows the 2024 release of an Oregon Health Authority study, which found several gaps in Oregon's behavioral health care system. To help address these gaps, the study found Oregon needs a more than $835 million investment to address treatment center capacity — noting the state lacks over 3,000 treatment beds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Chaotic tariff policy': USDA buys $16M of Oregon shrimp to help fishermen
PORTLAND, Ore. () — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has purchased millions of dollars worth of Oregon seafood to help boost the state's economy. Bruce Summers, administrator for the federal agency's Agricultural Marketing Service, of Pacific pink shrimp in a letter on May 16. Portland city workers avert strike after reaching tentative agreement 'We recognized the importance of Pacific pink shrimp to the economic health of our Nation and of the demand for high-quality, nutritious products for nutrition assistance programs,' Summers wrote in response to the request from Oregon Trawl Commission Director Yelena Nowak. This follows a letter in which seven Oregon lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Maxine Dexter and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, 'as soon as possible' — due to tariff uncertainty. President Donald Trump revealed his plan to enforce reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including the European Union, in March. As a result, the EU announced its plan to enforce 25% tariffs on an array of U.S. exports. The union has since paused its intentions to retaliate, but Oregon legislators say the uncertainty had already prompted several buyers to cancel or suspend large orders — just as fishermen are expecting a 'significant harvest' this season. The United Kingdom has also rejected the U.S. fishing industry's request to pause 20% tariffs on Pacific pink shrimp imports, lawmakers said in the May 5 letter. Bend man convicted for hitting Yellowstone National Park worker with vehicle In a statement, that the Oregon industry moves billions of dollars worth of seafood. State leaders and stakeholders hope the recent investment helps local fishermen stay afloat. 'Chaotic tariff policy has caused economic uncertainty, putting these businesses and Oregonian's livelihoods at risk,' Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said in a release. 'I am grateful that USDA has heeded our call to support Oregon's seafood industry by purchasing millions of dollars of Oregon pink shrimp.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ban on housing discrimination based on immigration status passes Oregon legislature
PORTLAND, Ore. () – After passing the Oregon House on Monday, a bipartisan bill that would ban housing discrimination based on a tenant's immigration status is heading to Governor Tina Kotek's desk to potentially be signed into state law. Senate Bill 599 has several provisions. This includes banning landlords from inquiring about or disclosing the immigration status of housing applicants, tenants or household members. Additionally, the bill modernizes identity verification requirements by allowing different kinds of identification forms that landlords can accept — including Social Security cards, green cards, birth certificates, taxpayer ID number cards and immigration to Representatives Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham), Lesly Muñoz (D-Woodburn) and Nathan Sosa (D-Greater Hillsboro), the bill would close a gap in state law by explicitly banning housing discrimination based on immigration status. 'This bill is about more than documents — it's about dignity,' said Rep. Ruiz, who is a chief sponsor of the bill with Sen. Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha). 'No Oregonian should have to live in fear that where they were born could cost them their home. This bill makes it clear: housing is a human right, and discrimination has no place in Oregon.' Just before the bill passed the House, Gov. Kotek was asked about the legislation during a Monday press availability, where the governor stated, 'We'll look at the bill. Certainly, want to make sure people have access to housing and I think it had bipartisan support so, I look forward to seeing it.' 'Completely ghosted us': PNW customers detail financial losses, unfinished jobs tied to local contractor The bill ended up passing the Oregon legislature with bipartisan support from Republicans, including, Rep. Gregory Smith (R-Heppner), Rep. Cyrus Javadi (R-Tillamook), Rep. Bobby Levy (R-Echo), and Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem). However, the bill faced opposition from other Republicans, including Rep. Alek Skarlatos (R-Winston), who released a statement on Monday taking issue with the provision banning landlords from disclosing a tenant's immigration status. According to Skarlatos, the bill would put landlords in a position to potentially violate Title 8 U.S.C. Section 1324, a federal law banning 'alien smuggling, domestic transportation of unauthorized aliens, concealing or harboring unauthorized aliens to enter the United States.' 'This bill is yet another example of our state government putting dangerous illegal immigrants ahead of law-abiding Oregonians,' said Rep. Skarlatos. 'This bill reaches a level of absurdity in mandating landlords commit a federal crime to protect even the most violent illegal immigrants and sends a dangerous message: in Oregon lawlessness is protected and speech is policed.' Oregon man imprisoned for killing goat with 'no remorse' Meanwhile, some House Democrats argue the bill would provide necessary housing protections for all Oregonians regardless of their immigration status. 'For too long, our immigrant communities have lived under a cloud of uncertainty and fear,' said Rep. Muñoz. 'Today, we take a powerful step forward to ensure safe, stable housing is accessible to all Oregonians — regardless of their background.' Rep. Sosa added, 'At a time in our country when immigrant communities are under attack, every Oregonian has the right to feel safe in their home, regardless of their immigration status.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
