Maribeth
Guarino
High Value Health Care, Advocate, PIRG
Started on staff: 2020
B.A., summa cum laude, Susquehanna University; J.D. and Law & Public Policy certification, summa cum laude, Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
Maribeth educates lawmakers and the public about problems in health care and pushes for workable solutions. When she’s not researching or lobbying, Maribeth likes to read, play games, and paint..
Posts by Maribeth Guarino
OSPIRG comments on prescription drug transparency and health care consolidation rules
Health Care Advocate Maribeth Guarino is part of two rulemaking committees formed as part of bills OSPIRG helped pass last session.
New report: Trouble in the Air: Oregon experienced elevated levels of polluted air in 2020
According to a new report from Environment Oregon Research & Policy Center, Frontier Group and OSPIRG Foundation, the Portland metro area suffered through 55 days of elevated air pollution in 2020. Eugene experienced 73, and Klamath Falls and Harney County both saw over 100. Air pollution increases the risk of premature death, asthma attacks, cancer and other adverse health impacts.
High medical treatment costs create debt common in bankruptcy filings
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic crashed into Oregon, medical debt was a severe problem, playing a role in over half of all of Oregon’s bankruptcies in 2019. On Thursday, OSPIRG released a report, Unhealthy Debt: Medical costs and bankruptcies in Oregon, that found at least 60 percent of Oregon’s bankruptcies included medical debt in 2019. The report explored the reasons for Oregon’s medical debt problems, and presented policy solutions, such as a public insurance option, that could help Oregonians keep their health and financial affairs in order.