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In this issue: |
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Backpacks, clothes, art supplies, games, magazines… these are just some of the items that play a critical role for the recovery and well-being of Oregon State Hospital (OSH) patients, offering them comfort, engagement, and supporting them during their stay and beyond.
As for you—Oregon Health News readers—we couldn’t be more grateful for the generosity you’ve shown over the years toward the hospital and its patients. It's truly heartwarming. ❤
Among the hospital’s biggest needs at this time are backpacks, as well as new or gently used clothing for all body types, with extra need for clothing designed and styled for women.
Other desired items include: duffle bags; travel-sized toiletries (shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, etc.) non-toxic paints and glues, crayons (no pens), construction or origami paper and general craft items; greeting cards; puzzles, books or games to stimulate minds and provide relaxation; magazines about cars, motorcycles, sports, news and current events, fitness, animals, plants and gardening, music, or fashion and beauty. These items help patients when they’re discharged, as well as restock the hospital’s donations inventory.
Ways to donate:
- Visit OSH’s Summer Sunshine Drive Amazon Wish List page and order items to be sent directly to the hospital. Click or scan QR code →
- Drop off new or gently used items in-person at either campus’ reception in Salem (2600 Center Street NE) or Junction City (29398 Recovery Way), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Money donations via Amazon gift cards, checks or cash can be dropped off in-person at either campus, or mailed to: OSH Volunteer Services; 2600 Center Street NE; Salem, OR 97301. Money allows the hospital to fill in the gaps when specific needs arise. Any funds not spent this summer will be used for the 2025 Caring Tree Project, ensuring every patient receives a gift during the holiday season.
If you need a receipt for the tax-deductible donation or would like to arrange a pick-up of bulk or large items, email OSHVolunteer.Services@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call (503) 890-1369. OSH Volunteer Services’ Summer Sunshine Drive runs through August.
THANK YOU!
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People in Oregon who rely on electricity for important medical and safety equipment, as well as to power their air conditioning units, may be eligible for free supplies to help them get through power outages.
These supplies include:
- Emergency kits filled with items such as flashlights, blankets, first aid supplies and food.
- Portable power stations with rechargeable batteries.
Emergencies such as wildfires, heat waves and floods can happen at any time, and it’s important to be ready. But for many people, it’s hard to know where to begin. Some may not have money for supplies. This is especially true for older adults and people with disabilities.
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) currently has about 15,000 emergency kits and 700 power stations available for eligible older adults and people with physical disabilities who get Medicaid in-home supports, and those who get long-term services and supports through Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) and some county governments.
If you think you qualify and want supplies, please contact your APD case manager. If you don’t know who your case manager is, call or visit your local office where you receive APD services. ODHS lists contact information for all state and county offices that provide services.
This emergency supplies program was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when ODHS used money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help those in need.
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Heat waves can seriously harm older people, infants and children, those who live or work outdoors, are pregnant, or who have low incomes or a chronic medical condition.
It’s particularly important to know the difference between heat exhaustion, which is treatable by finding a cooler location and drinking water, and heat stroke, which is an emergency that requires emergency medical attention.
Learn more here about heat exhaustion and heat stroke, including symptoms and how to treat.
Tips to prevent these and other heat-related illnesses:
- Drink plenty of fluids (avoid alcohol and sugary drinks) even if you are not thirsty, regardless of your activity level, especially when working outside.
- If you don’t have an air conditioner, visiting friends with an air conditioner or going to free cooling centers in your community can help you stay cool.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
- If you are an employer or work in extreme heat, check out the heat illness prevention information from the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- Avoid eating hot foods and heavy meals.
- Never leave infants, pets or children in parked cars.
- Try to limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours when it’s cooler.
More extreme heat resources can be found at 211.org. For heat advisories and more tips visit OHA’s Extreme Heat webpage.
Members of Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) may be eligible for devices/equipment as part of home changes for health during extreme weather:
- Air conditioners and air filters to provide clean air and healthy temperatures.
- Portable power supplies to operate medical devices such as ventilators during a power outage.
- Mini fridges to keep medication cold during a power outage (requires a portable power supply).
OHP members interested in requesting devices can contact their coordinated care organization (CCO) to learn more and see if they qualify. If an OHP member is not sure which plan or CCO they are in, they can call the OHA Client Services Unit at 800-273-0557. OHP Open Card members can call 888-834-4304 or email ORHRSN@acentra.com.
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Health notes |
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The reimbursement payments Oregon hospitals receive from commercial insurance companies have largely increased in recent years, according to new data analyzed by OHA’s Hospital Payment Reporting program.
Oregon hospitals collectively received more than $2.16 billion from commercial insurance companies in 2023 for providing 179 different common procedures ranging from the removal of brain tumors and chemotherapy to hip replacements and COVID-19 tests.
Highlights from the latest data include:
- The statewide average payment for common procedures that involve staying overnight at a hospital (e.g., heart valve replacements and appendectomies) grew to $38,208—a 23.4% net increase between 2019 and 2023.
- The statewide average payment for pregnancy-related procedures such as delivery and newborn care grew to $8,521—a 20.3% net increase between 2019 and 2023.
While payments for the above two categories increased, the number of procedures actually decreased. And, when adjusting for inflation, commercial insurance payments for some procedures such as X-rays and CT scans decreased between 2019 and 2023.
The findings illustrate that health care costs can vary from one hospital to the next and depend on the details of someone’s specific health plan, which is the result of complex negotiations between hospitals, health systems and insurance carriers.
Additional data compares hospital payments made by commercial insurers with that of traditional Medicare (not Medicare Advantage), as well as Oregon’s coordinated care organizations (CCOs) for members of Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid).
You can explore all the hospital payment data on our Hospital Payment Report dashboard. You can also download the 2023 report here.
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OHA answers your questions |
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Questions are answered by experts at OHA, other state agencies or community partners.
Q: Is there still only one measles case [in Oregon]? – Bob, Corvallis
A: Yes, still just the one case, confirmed June 19. With no known spread one month later, we are crossing our fingers that it was an isolated case. We continue to advise people with a rash or other measles-like symptoms to contact their provider and arrange to be evaluated in a place where they will not expose other people. We also continue to advise providers to consider measles as a possible diagnosis, and to test for it when appropriate.
We will of course alert the public if there are additional cases, and you can also follow our online Weekly Communicable Disease Report, selecting measles from the drop down menu, to stay up to date.
Nationally, the measles outbreak of 2025 has slowed down. As of July 15, CDC reports 1,309 confirmed cases in 39 states. Of that, 13% has been hospitalized, and three people have died – an adult in New Mexico and two children in Texas.
Q: What is the water quality in Emigrant Lake in Ashlandegon? – Peg, Ashland
A: The latest testing data show the water quality in Emigrant Lake is safe. We had issued an advisory there in early May, which was lifted May 9. The advisory was issued after partners confirmed that photo and satellite imagery showed potentially harmful algae blooms (HAB) near popular recreation sites. Follow-up testing showed that cyanotoxins were below harmful levels for recreational use, which allowed the advisory to be lifted.
You can monitor all harmful algae bloom (HAB) advisories in Oregon here, and you can also sign up for emails or text alerts here.
In addition, Rogue Riverkeeper conducts and reports bi-weekly testing for e. coli bacteria in several rivers and lakes throughout the Rogue Basin, including Emigrant Lake where the most recent samples were taken July 14. Rogue Riverkeepers submits its water quality and safety information to “Swim Guide”—a national tool which you can use to look for safety information submitted by participating affiliates throughout Oregon and beyond.
Oregon is also one of the few states that have rules requiring public water systems to routinely monitor for cyanotoxins, and because Emigrant Lake supplies drinking water to a county park, Jackson County tests Emigrant Lake’s water every two weeks between May 1 and Oct. 31 before it enters the drinking water treatment plant. People can search for local drinking water testing results in their neighborhood using this interactive map.
We like to remind people that regardless of the most recent testing, water conditions can change quickly so it’s important to recognize the signs of a bloom. People should stay out of the water, and keep their pets out of the water, if the water looks foamy, scummy, like spilled paint, green, blue-green, pea-green, brownish red, or where green globs can be seen in the water, or where mats are growing on rocks or sand or accumulating along the shore.
We encourage people to report blooms or related human or animal illnesses directly to OHA using forms found on our website.
If you have questions about health topics in Oregon, submit your question here. Although we are unable to answer every question, we try to address those of interest to a broad audience. Please understand that we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
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