In other words, everyday Oregonians are funding these ballooning budgets, which account for a huge proportion of health care spending in the state. And while out-of-control health care cost inflation is not a problem unique to Oregon, a fight is brewing here over whether local factors are making it worse. Kreisman adds that Oregonians “are proud and relieved at the high number of better-paying union jobs in health care. Still, there is little doubt Oregon hospitals have been struggling lately to stay in the black. And this week, Oregon Health & Science University, the state’s flagship hospital, noted a “dramatic financial turnaround.”