Bill > HB3176

This bill requires home health agencies and home hospice programs to establish staffing committees with equal representation from managers and staff to develop comprehensive staffing plans. These committees will be responsible for creating, reviewing, and modifying staffing plans that ensure adequate patient care, taking into account factors like patient acuity, travel time, documentation requirements, and staff availability. If committees cannot agree on a staffing plan, they must engage in binding arbitration through the Oregon Health Authority. The bill mandates that staffing plans be submitted to the authority, made available to staff, and include provisions for on-call and per diem staff. The Oregon Health Authority will have enforcement powers, including issuing warnings and civil penalties for violations, with penalties increasing for repeated infractions. The bill also establishes a complaint process for staff to report missed meal and rest periods, allows for potential license suspension or revocation for serious violations, and permits home health and hospice staffing committees to potentially combine if certain conditions are met. Importantly, the bill provides a timeline for implementation, with staffing committees required to develop compliant plans by January 1, 2027, and full operability beginning January 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3176