Official Summary

Digest: Makes changes to the laws regarding hospital nurse staffing plans. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.3). [Digest: Tells OHA to study the effects of House Bill 2697 and give a report on its findings. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.1).] [Requires the Oregon Health Authority to study the effects of House Bill 2697 (2023). Directs the authority to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health care not later than September 15, 2026.] [Sunsets January 2, 2027.] Directs that a hospital shall comply with either the nurse staffing plan for a unit if a nurse staffing plan for the unit has been adopted or, if a nurse staffing plan for the unit has not been adopted, the applicable statutory nurse-to-patient staffing ratio for the unit. Allows the Oregon Health Authority to consolidate multiple complaints related to hospital staffing ratios that contain the same allegations or allegations based on the same set of facts into a single investigation or enforcement action. Directs the authority to give priority to the investigation and disposition of complaints related to hospital staffing ratios that contain allegations that occur on or after June 1, 2025. Creates a violation for failure to adopt a hospital-wide nurse staffing plan, comply with a nurse staffing plan that has been adopted for a unit, or comply with a statutory nurse-to-patient staffing ratio for a unit if a nurse staffing plan has not been adopted for a unit. Prohibits the imposition of a civil penalty for a violation for failure to comply with a statutory nurse-to-patient staffing ratio for a unit if the hospital took certain actions in efforts to comply. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.