Kristine de Leon

1 week ago | oregonlive.com | Kristine de Leon

A community advisory board found Oregon Health & Science University’s bid to acquire its rival Legacy Health offers little public benefit and raised red flags regarding affordability, access and health equity. The board, convened by state regulators to help it review the proposed merger, has no decision-making authority, but its decision informs the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Care Market Oversight program, which is expected to rule on the merger this summer.

1 week ago | chronline.com | Kristine de Leon

Health officials in Hood River County, Oregon, say that two people have died of a rare brain disease. County health officials say they’ve identified three cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the last eight months. One was confirmed by autopsy, while two are presumptive diagnoses. Creutzfeldt-Jakob is a rare brain disorder caused by infectious proteins called prions, which causes rapid, progressive dementia, movement disorders and behavioral changes.

1 week ago | oregonlive.com | Kristine de Leon

Health officials in Hood River County say that three people have died of a rare brain disease. An autopsy that began last June confirmed that one person had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The two other cases are presumptive diagnoses, according to the county health department. Creutzfeldt-Jakob is a rare, fatal brain disorder caused by infectious proteins called prions, which causes rapid, progressive dementia, movement disorders and behavioral changes.

2 weeks ago | oregonlive.com | Kristine de Leon

The Oregon Senate voted Tuesday to pass a bill that would bring some of the nation’s strictest regulations over corporate ownership of doctor’s offices and medical clinics. Senate Bill 951, which passed the chamber 21-8, aims to strengthen the state’s long-standing prohibitions on the corporate control of medical practices and clinics — but opponents say it will weaken already struggling medical practices. The measure now heads to the House for approval.

2 weeks ago | oregonlive.com | Kristine de Leon

James Mason said he first noticed an uptick in his grocery bills about three years ago and has watched them creep higher ever since. The Tigard resident said his monthly spending on groceries has nearly doubled, which he attributes to steep prices hikes for meat, dairy and eggs. He said he’s also noticed the price of fruit and vegetables go up more recently, too. “The prices have gone up drastically for pretty much everything,” Mason said.