Oregon lawmakers are poised to allocate $18 million this session to help recovery houses around the state grow.
HEALTH CARE
COLUMN: Selecting a Medicare plan as a public retiree
Jim Sellers, former Oregon journalist and state agency employee, writes a regular column to help thousands in Salem deal with the confusing world of Medicare and federal benefits. He’s available to answer your questions.
Legislature advances bill that aims to stem violence against hospital workers
House Bill 4088 would step up the penalty for attacking a hospital worker and create funding for hospitals to prevent violence.
Oregon Democratic lawmakers reach tentative deal to address drug addiction crisis
Democrats in the Legislature plan to create a new class of misdemeanor and add opportunities to avoid jail and enter treatment
Senate committee axes proposal for mandatory addiction treatment for children
Oregon lawmakers turned down a proposal that would have made addiction treatment mandatory when children don’t consent.
Oregon Health Authority’s slowness to respond to drug crisis stymies expansion of care
Treatment providers have “shovel ready” projects, and the Legislature allocated millions last year but the health authority has yet to make any funding decisions.
In rural Oregon, close community ties could make proposed addiction programs successful
A joint committee of Oregon legislators is considering adopting a “deflection” program, which would allow a person to avoid a drug possession charge if they took an assessment and attended one more appointment to address their addiction.
Oregon lawmakers look for ways to curb prescription costs
Lawmakers are weighing an array of pharmacy bills this session that could rein in prescription prices and allow pharmacists to treat people for COVID-19.
Lawmakers wrestle with police role in drug addiction crisis
Legislators listened for nearly four hours Wednesday as Oregonians shared heart-wrenching stories of addiction and overdose.
Lawmakers take first deep plunge into proposals to address the drug crisis
Most ideas to reform Oregon’s Measure 110 would need funding, but an amount hasn’t been set yet.