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Podcast: Cascade CounterPoint
Episode: QP: Oregonians Want More Hospital Beds. The Oregon Health Authority Is Standing in the Way.
Description: Full Text: According to a new survey from the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center, 71% of Oregonians are either somewhat or very concerned about hospitals having enough beds to take care of all patients requiring care.
These fears aren’t unfounded—even as the pandemic comes to an end. Oregon has the fewest number of hospital beds per capita in the nation, leaving its health care system vulnerable to being overwhelmed during future emergencies.
Hospital capacity in Oregon has been stifled for decades by the state’s certificate-of-need laws. Under these laws, hospitals who wish to expand...