The state’s 2024-2025 influenza season is the worst since Oregon Health Authority began tracking the virus 15 years ago, with people continuing to be hospitalized at a time of the year when statewide influenza activity traditionally begins winding down, health officials say. That means it’s still not too late for[Read More…]
Health & Wellness
Doctor: Reese’s Law negatively impacts local patients
I write to you as an owner of Hearing Associates, a small private audiology practice in Eugene, and an individual with complete deafness in my left ear and incredibly profound hearing loss in my right ear since birth. I want to draw your attention to Reese’s Law (P.L. 117-171). Reese’s[Read More…]
Oregon launches first-in-the nation program to offer special Medicaid benefits to more young adults
A new Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) program provides benefits to eligible young adults with special health care needs ages 19 and 20. The Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (YSHCN) benefits launched Jan. 1 and are the first of their kind in the nation. These benefits extend OHP coverage, enhanced vision[Read More…]
Health roundup: Jan. 9 edition
Oregon Lung Specialists to Join PeaceHealth Medical Group SPRINGFIELD – In a significant move to enhance healthcare services in the Eugene/Springfield area, Oregon Lung Specialists became part of the PeaceHealth Medical Group on Dec. 2. The clinic is renamed PeaceHealth Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Chad Drive, while remaining at[Read More…]
Saying it loud and clear: Support group promotes friendship, freedom to find one’s voice
EUGENE — There is something to be said about the power of community. The often strenuous nature of a physical or emotional obstacle is best served with someone to share it with, and in the Aphasia Conversation Group’s case, over autumnal Scattergories and peals of laughter. As indicated by its[Read More…]
Pass the gravy … then discuss Medicare
SPRINGFIELD—This Thanksgiving, Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Val Hoyle are urging Oregonians to have conversations with older loved ones about Medicare enrollment (along with their turkey and sides) at the dining room table. On Nov. 22, at Willamalane Adult Activity Center, Sen. Wyden and Rep. Hoyle hosted a press conference[Read More…]
Did you hear that? Schools salute locally-grown food with simultaneous crunch
SPRINGFIELD- Not far from the bustling hub of urban neighborhoods in Eugene and Springfield is a thriving agricultural area. The outskirts of Lane County are scattered with family farms working to feed their community. But besides farm stores and farmers markets, these farms do not always have the opportunity to[Read More…]
Dismantling a diet deficit: Fresh summer grub program generates $41,000 for farmers
Food equity programs made a debut in area farmers markets in May, and already, two have yielded nearly $41,000 for small farmers as well as fresh, locally-grown food to over 5,000 people at no cost. This summer, Trillium Community Health Plan partnered with the nonprofit Willamette Farm and Food Coalition[Read More…]
Medicaid performance report shows ‘general improvement’
SALEM – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the state’s 2023 annual report on the performance of coordinated care organizations (CCOs), local health networks that administer coverage to Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid) members. The report found that CCOs generally improved their performance in most categories statewide from 2022 to[Read More…]
Robotics rule at RiverBend: New surgical robot added to toolbox
SPRINGFIELD — PeaceHealth RiverBend this month added the latest in robotic technology to its surgical services, and as the name suggests, he is a smartie. The da Vinci surgical robot has been assisting surgeons with laparoscopic or “keyhole” operations since 1999. While keyhole surgeries — a minimally invasive approach through[Read More…]
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM
