Asante is expected to pay the City of Ashland $4 million by June 18 as the two parties work to end a long-running affiliation agreement tied to Ashland Community Hospital. The agreement comes as Asante prepares to close inpatient services in Ashland and convert the facility into a satellite campus of Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Asante says its hospitals, emergency departments and immediate care locations will remain open as the health system moves forward with layoffs and cost-cutting efforts. The organization says 300 or more employees may be affected in fiscal year 2026 as it works to address rising expenses, lower reimbursement rates and other financial pressures.

Southern Oregon communities are included in a new rural healthcare funding initiative that could expand school nursing services, support local hospitals and clinics, and create new grant opportunities for regional providers.

Oregon will receive $197.3 million in federal funding beginning in 2026 to strengthen rural healthcare, with investments focused on access to care, workforce support, disease prevention, and health technology across rural and frontier communities.

OHA is encouraging Oregonians to get their flu vaccinations as positive tests rise ahead of holiday gatherings and flu activity is expected to increase into early spring.