Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Medford Report Medford Report
    • Local News
    • Oregon
    • Community
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Trending
    • About us
    Subscribe
    Medford Report Medford Report
    Home»Oregon»Oregon Hospitals Struggle with Rising Costs, Expanding Patient Needs
    Oregon

    Oregon Hospitals Struggle with Rising Costs, Expanding Patient Needs

    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Medford, OR – The Hospital Association of Oregon (HAO) held a press conference Wednesday to address the growing challenges hospitals across the state are facing in maintaining quality care for patients. The association highlighted that since 2021, the total cost of patient care has outpaced the payments hospitals receive, putting access to care at significant risk.

    The three primary factors driving hospital distress, according to the HAO, are rising operational costs, longer hospital stays, and reimbursements that fail to cover the actual cost of care. The financial strain is exacerbated by an increase in patient demand, particularly as the state expands the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), which now boasts the highest number of insured residents in its history.

    Daniel Davis, Nursing Senior Director at HAO, emphasized the critical situation, stating, “When we have this many patients waiting for the next level of appropriate care, we don’t have enough available beds for patients who also need our care. As we see increased numbers of patients waiting for hospital beds, it’s associated with higher ED boarding, which contributes to longer emergency department wait times, delayed care, and increased morbidity and mortality.”

    The rapid expansion of the OHP has certainly led to greater access to healthcare for many Oregonians, but it has also introduced financial pressures on hospitals. The OHP, which covers low-income residents, reimburses healthcare providers at a rate that is significantly lower than the actual cost of providing care. According to HAO, for every dollar spent on patient care, the OHP reimburses only 56 cents, creating a substantial funding gap.

    With hospital beds increasingly occupied by patients waiting for alternative care, the backlog of emergency department cases continues to grow, resulting in longer wait times and delayed treatment. The combination of insufficient reimbursement rates and overburdened healthcare systems has put both healthcare providers and patients in a difficult position, leading to calls for policy reform to address these gaps.

    As Oregon hospitals face these mounting challenges, the question remains whether state lawmakers will be able to make adjustments to the OHP reimbursement system to better support the healthcare infrastructure and ensure that Oregonians continue to have access to the care they need.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Summit Focuses on Teen Prevention and Online Exploitation

    May 8, 2025

    Oregon Supreme Court Upholds $3.2 Million Judgment Against Josephine County Commissioner’s Business

    May 7, 2025

    Oregon Health Authority Issues Preemptive Recreational Use Advisory for Emigrant Lake Due to Harmful Algae Bloom

    May 2, 2025

    Southern Oregon Expands Wildlife Protection Efforts with Strategic Land Acquisition

    April 30, 2025

    Comments are closed.

    Popular

    Standoff in Grants Pass Ends with Arrest of Felony Suspect

    May 9, 2025

    Investigation Underway After Baby Seal Stabbed on Oregon Beach

    May 9, 2025

    Firefighters Discover Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation After Blaze in Merlin, Oregon

    May 9, 2025

    Medford Man Arrested After Shooting Near Bear Creek Greenway

    May 9, 2025

    Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Summit Focuses on Teen Prevention and Online Exploitation

    May 8, 2025

    Ashland to Conduct Controlled Burns for Community Wildfire Safety

    May 8, 2025
    Latest news
    • Jackson County reports 90 new COVID-19 cases, one new death
    • Medford Fire Department Responds to Electrical Fire at Rogue Community College
    • Councilors ratified the City Manager’s approval of a Community Development Block Grant Capital Improvement Projectfunding agreement with Oasis Center of the Rogue Valley for transitional housing units on East Main Street
    • Rogue Retreat Takes Over Ashland’s Severe Weather Shelter for Winter
    • Gov. Kotek announced that the State of Oregon will award Fallen Nyssa Police Department Reserve Corporal with the Law Enforcement Medal of Ultimate Sacrifice

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Local News
    • Oregon
    • Community
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Trending
    • About us
    © 2025 Medford Report. Designed by Tony Cooper.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.