Task force tackles Oregon’s hospital ‘boarding’ problem
By Isobel Charles, Oregon News Service
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregonians who are ready to leave the hospital but still require care do not have enough places to go, affecting providers and patients at all levels.
The average hospital stay has increased to nearly five days, according to the Hospital Association of Oregon. With nowhere to send discharged patients, hospitals can end up boarding them, which hurts hospitals financially and means fewer beds are available for people who need them.
Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, was part of a task force which released 10 recommendations to address the problem. She said a top priority is presumptive eligibility for Medicaid, so people who likely qualify do not have to wait for their applications to be processed in order to receive care, which would also benefit providers.
"Long-term care facilities need to be assured that the patients they're accepting, they already have their insurance in place," Patterson explained.
Increased reimbursement rates for adult foster homes are high on the list for the task force, as well as continued funding for guardians. Guardians are court-appointed positions who make decisions for adults found incapable of caring for themselves because of dementia or other health problems.
The task force, which included representatives from hospitals, nursing homes and union leaders, said expanding medical respite is also critical. The programs provide short-term residential care for people experiencing homelessness who do not need a hospital to recover from an illness or injury.
Patterson stressed not having access to places to heal can be deadly.
"I would really advocate for funding for medical respite because we do not want to see people dying on the streets," Patterson emphasized.
Another issue contributing to the backlog of patients is staffing shortages in Oregon's skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. Patterson noted the state is collaborating with Future Ready Oregon to grow the health care workforce, including certified nursing assistants. She added another bill is in the works for spring, focusing on entry-level positions in long-term care.
