What can the legislature do to fix the failing hospital staffing law?
A threat to health care sustainability
As discussed yesterday in part one on AsanteIMPACT, the hospital staffing law passed by the Oregon legislature in 2023 has been poorly implemented by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). This law, as currently interpreted, is one of the single greatest threats to the long-term viability of healthcare systems in Oregon.
If left uncorrected, these administrative and financial burdens will cause closures, reduce access to care and lead to potential harm for the very patients the law was intended to protect.
A call for immediate action
These issues cannot wait to be resolved. For the sake of our communities and the vital services we provide, course correction is necessary now.
There are two bills advancing in the Oregon state legislature to address some of these issues. The Hospital Association of Oregon and Asante agree that immediate action is necessary, and support these common-sense amendments.
The two bills are HB 4074 and SB 1558. Their aims are similar:
- A return to the original intent of the law, where statutory ratios will serve as the backstop unless the committees collaboratively agree to implement a different model.
- A temporary pause in the penalties allowing health care systems time to adapt to these novel and complex changes.
- Common sense changes that protect rural hospitals and appreciate the differing realities between urban and rural health care settings.
We seek collaboration over contentious, punitive enforcement. For the sake of our communities and the vital services we provide, course corrections are necessary now.
Asante calls on the Oregon legislature to quickly advance and pass common sense amendments to the hospital staffing laws.
