Speaking to the Courant before the dispute was resolved, state Healthcare Advocate Kathleen Holt said patients suffer as a result of the disputes and the uncertainty of last-minute resolutions.

The March 31 deadline for a deal comes as OHSU tries to boost revenue to cover costs for wages and supplies that rocketed during the pandemic and remain stubbornly high. OHSU is waiting for regulators to approve its purchase of Legacy Health, which faces similar struggles.