Directs the Department of Human Services to establish an Exceptional Home Care Worker Certification program.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2678
Sponsored by Representatives PHAM H, ISADORE, Senator CAMPOS; Representatives CHOTZEN, GOMBERG,
HARTMAN, MCDONALD, NERON, NGUYEN H, NOSSE, WALTERS, Senators FREDERICK, PHAM K (Pre-
session filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act tells state agencies to study ways to improve services for people with complex
medical needs. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.1).
Directs the Department of Human Services to establish an Exceptional Home Care Worker
Certification program. Directs the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to study the fea-
sibility of implementing a new classification for case managers who serve people with acute behav-
ioral health needs. Directs the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority to
study funding pathways for providing behavioral health services to seniors and persons with phys-
ical disabilities, a shared functional needs assessment tool and a process for incorporating housing
benefit eligibility applications into the Oregon Eligibility (ONE) system. Directs the Department of
Human Services to develop a data-driven argument for expanding the service priority levels for
which an individual may be eligible for medical assistance.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to services for medically complex Oregonians.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) As used in this section, “home care worker” has the meaning given that
term in ORS 410.600.
(2) The Department of Human Services shall establish by rule an Exceptional Home Care
Worker Certification program to provide training and support for home care workers who
care for individuals with complex behavioral health needs. The rules shall identify the cir-
cumstances under which a home care worker certified under the program may be eligible for
a higher payment rate.
SECTION 2. The Department of Human Services shall adopt the rules described in sec-
tion 1 of this 2025 Act no later than July 1, 2026.
SECTION 3. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall study the feasibil-
ity of implementing a new classification and payment rate for case managers who serve
seniors and persons with physical disabilities who have acute behavioral health needs. The
department shall submit a report of the department’s findings in the manner provided by
ORS 192.245 to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health no later
than September 15, 2026.
SECTION 4. (1) The Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Oregon
Health Authority, shall conduct a study to:
(a) Identify potential funding pathways, including under a 42 U.S.C. 1396n(i) state plan
amendment, to provide behavioral health services to individuals who are served by the divi-
sion of the department that provides services for seniors and persons with disabilities.
(b) Develop a shared functional needs assessment tool for functional needs assessments
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 635
HB 2678
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conducted by the department or the authority and identify any updates to existing technol-
ogy needed to implement the shared assessment tool.
(c) Identify a process for incorporating eligibility applications for housing benefits, in-
cluding housing supports approved for the demonstration project under section 1115 of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315), into the Oregon Eligibility (ONE) system.
(2) The department, in collaboration with the authority, shall submit a report in the
manner provided by ORS 192.245, and may include recommendations for legislation, to the
interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health no later than September
15, 2026.
SECTION 5.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Medical assistance” has the meaning given that term in ORS 414.025.
(b) “Service priority level” means the category of assistance that a senior or person with
a physical disability has been assessed to need to perform activities of daily living.
(2) The Department of Human Services shall conduct a study to develop a data-driven
argument for expanding the service priority levels for which an individual may be eligible for
medical assistance.
(3) The department shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and
may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the Legislative
Assembly related to health no later than September 15, 2026.
SECTION 6.
Sections 3 to 5 of this 2025 Act are repealed on January 2, 2027.
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