Oregon Signs New Law to Tackle Behavioral Health Worker Shortages as Providers Warn They’re Drowning in Paperwork

Changes designed to retain behavioral workers, welcome new talent to the workforce, and ensure that Oregonians receive the care they need have been signed into legislation by Governor Tina Kotek.

House Bill 4083 passed with broad bipartisan support of the House and Senate last week and addresses Oregon’s behavioral health workforce crisis.

Frontline Providers Drown in Unnecessary Paperwork

Chaired by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, the Behavioral Health Talent Council advanced HB 4083 to eliminate red tape for prospective workers as frontline providers ‘drown’ in unnecessary paperwork.

Kotek Wilson states in a news release that frontline providers are ‘stuck in holding patterns’ as they deal with unnecessary barriers, and that the legislation will assist in the retention of skilled professionals whom the state cannot afford to lose.

The Causes of the Workforce Crisis

Several factors have contributed to the behavioral health workforce crisis in Oregon.

A chronic shortage of funding, low wages, burnout caused by excessive caseloads, high provider turnover, and high-acuity patient needs have fueled the shortage of suitably trained professionals in this field.

Onerous administrative burdens and limited career opportunities combined to fuel the workforce shortage, and forced many professionals out of their chosen career path.

Resolving the Crisis is a Top Priority of Governor Kotek

Resolving the behavioral health crisis is a top priority issue for the governor, who commissioned the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to undertake an assessment of the situation.

Here is the access gap this workforce bill is trying to chip away at.

Kotek also established the Behavioral Health Talent Council to transform recommendations made by the HECC into actionable plans.

With the help of frontline workers and experts across the state, the Council developed a set of recommendations to improve workforce conditions.

A State-Funded Survey Shows That More Than Two-Thirds of the Workforce Plan to Leave Their Positions

A state-funded survey of the behavioral health workforce situation reveals that the crisis runs deeper than mere licensing delays.

The survey found that more than two-thirds of the workers plan to leave their positions, and that 9 out of 14 behavioral health professionals face the risk of high turnover.

Retaining workers is therefore a priority, as keeping people is easier and cheaper than training newcomers.