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 February Kithaber gets a stinging rebuke over OHP expansion Governor John Kitzhaber is determined to expand the Oregon Health Plan, but politics seem to be getting in his way. The Republican leadership is placing obstacles along the path that could derail the entire process. But the governor, who is trying to outsmart them, almost succeeded. Bad neighbors: McKenzie-Willamette sues PeaceHealth A lawsuit filed by McKenzie-Willamette Hospital alleges PeaceHealth will soon have a stranglehold on emergency services in Lane County, putting it on a trajectory to fail. The lawsuit comes on the heels of an announcement that PeaceHealth will leave a 24-hour urgent care facility in Eugene once it opens its full-service hospital in RiverBend, less than five miles from McKenzie-Willamette. From the heart Senator Peter Courtney (D-Salem) was a last minute addition to the legislative panel at the Oregon Health Forum breakfast in January dealing with the special session, but his remarks will not soon be forgotten. When Senate Minority Leader Kate Brown (D-Portland) canceled at the last minute, the enigmatic special session veteran stepped in, and all were glad he did. Single-payer on its own Has the AFL-CIO lost its teeth? Maybe, said Max Wilkins, vice chairman of the Portland chapter for Health Care for All-Oregon. The powerful union that represents 170,000 workers in Oregon shied away from endorsing the long-shot single-payer initiative. Sponsors of the initiative claim it would create universal health coverage. King of the Hill Don't be surprised if you get a call from Jim Hill. A pound-the-pavement campaigner, Hill calls up to 150 Oregonians a day asking for their votes. Prone to punctuating his sentences with a laugh, he's still decisive with his answers. He served in both houses of Oregon's legislature and most recently spent two terms as state treasurer. A life-long Democrat, he is the only African-American candidate from either party. Hill recently spoke with Oregon Health Forum reporter Rory Carroll as part of an ongoing series of interviews with gubernatorial candidates. A tale of two waivers Opponents of Washington's controversial Medicaid waiver were recently seen celebrating what looked like its defeat at the hands of the feds. But the waiver is far from dead, proponents say, and the battle for its approval is only just beginning. Many advocacy groups have voiced concerns the waiver's language is too broad and threatens to limit services to the state's poor. Southern Oregon alliance hires manager Kimonui Holgen is the new executive director of the Health Care Coalition of Southern Oregon, an alliance of seven organizations that provides medical care for low-income people in Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties. Minor threat? A battle is raging in Columbia County over whether to continue accepting federal money for family planning and reproductive services for minors. More than 300 people packed into a standing room only hearing room on a cold January night to hear arguments. Also in this issue...
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