OHCA 2018 Report

2018 Oregon Long Term Care State Report www.ohca.com 19 2019 Policy Prescriptions Workforce Oregon’s unemployment rate is at historically low levels and six-years of increases in the minimum wage are combining to create a shortage of workers to provide long-term care services. We will not have the workforce needed to care for the increasing number of Oregonians of advanced age requiring long term care services and supports. Oregon should implement a series of public policy initiatives to enhance the caregiving profession, including (1) streamlining and aligning training requirements so that caregivers have a clear career path for advancement, (2) increasing the availability of education and training programs for licensed and certified staff, and (3) creating a strategy to address the critical shortage of nurses in Oregon. Oregon should ensure that Medicaid reimbursement rates for home and community-based care services keep pace with rising labor costs. Access and Affordability Oregon serves the clear majority of older adults and adults living with disabilities receiving care in home and community-based care settings (assisted living and residential care) compared with other states that still heavily rely on traditional nursing facilities. The cost of providing quality care in assisted living and residential care communities is rising. Private pay consumers help subsidize the cost of providing care to Medicaid beneficiaries. In order to maintain access for Medicaid beneficiaries and maintain the affordability of care for middle- income Oregonians, the state should ensure that Medicaid rates for community based care providers are sufficient to cover the rising costs of delivering care, including from rising labor and wage costs, and are competitive with private rates. Key Priorities Ensure that Medicaid reimbursement rates for home and community-based care services keep pace with rising labor costs Streamline and align training requirements so that caregivers have a clear career path for advancement Increase the availability of education and training programs for licensed and certified staff Create a strategy to address the shortfall of nurses in Oregon