Oregon hospitals have significantly increased their community benefit spending, reaching $2 billion in fiscal year 2023.

The Oregon Health Authority has extended its contract with a Boston-based nonprofit to operate a helpline established under the mostly defunct Measure 110 even as call takers field a relatively small number of calls.

Hospitals in the state each have a minimum spending floor for community benefit activities and under-reimbursement.

The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board rounds up hits and misses in state and local public affairs. “Peaks and Valleys” publishes on an occasional basis.

Questions are answered by experts at the Oregon Health Authority, other state agencies or community partners. Questions and answers are republished by permission.

Renee Yandel, the executive director at HIV Alliance, says more screening could lead to better outcomes by acting as a prevention tool. By providing tests to people who might have otherwise not gotten tested or do not have access to primary care, it also increases the scope of care.

Dr. Sejal Hathi, director of the Oregon Health Authority, has taken a part-time, unpaid job at Stanford University Hospital. Stanford announced the appointment this week on a widely viewed LinkedIn post. The post caused some confusion in Oregon medical and political circles and in Hathi’s network.

The head of Oregon Health Authority has taken on a side hustle at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Sejal Hathi, who was appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek to lead one of the largest agencies in the state in 2023, shared the news about her part-time faculty position in California on LinkedIn.

Hospitals in Marion County have been selected to take part in a new, six-month pilot program run by the Oregon Health Authority to improve addiction care in emergency settings.

Earlier this month, Stanford University’s Division of Hospital Medicine announced it appointed OHA Director Sejal Hathi as a part-time faculty member who will see patients at a teaching hospital.

Sejal Hathi, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, has taken a part-time job seeing patients at Stanford University's teaching hospital in California. Hathi said she misses seeing patients, will work a weekend a month and is trying to restructure the position so she receives no pay. | STATE OF OREGON

Hospitals in Marion County have been selected to take part in a new, six-month pilot program run by the Oregon Health Authority to improve addiction care in emergency settings. OHA partnered with ...