Portland's main psychiatric facility will likely keep a key federal certification, state officials said Thursday.

Unity Center for Behavioral Health was on track to lose federal funding after state health investigators found that it routinely allowed patients to hurt themselves, physically and sexually assault each other and escape. Nurses and staff also gave patients the wrong medications in the wrong amounts, according to state documents.

At least two patients died of preventable causes, according to the Oregon Health Authority, which has investigated and monitored Unity.

But Unity officials have made enough progress toward fixing the center's problems that it no longer is on a "termination track" to lose its Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

A large portion of Unity's patients are homeless, uninsured or underinsured, which means that the government subsidies help Unity stay in business. The federal Centers of Medicare & Medicaid put Unity on the "termination track" in mid-May when Oregon Health Authority investigators found the rampant safety problems.

Legacy Health, which operates Unity, had 90 days to correct those issues. It got an extension to Oct. 31 when another inspection showed it was making some progress but still had serious problems.

The Oregon Health Authority now recommends that Unity keep its ability to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments.

Unity is the main center in the Portland area for people in mental health crisis to go. It has both inpatient services and a psychiatric emergency room.

While the announcement indicates Unity will likely be out from under the state's close supervision, the investigation continues and the federal agency still must agree to the health authority's recommendation.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger