Who we are
The Oregon Home Care Commission (OHCC) consists of nine commissioners appointed by the Governor for up to three (three-year) terms. Five are consumers of homecare services. The other four represent the Department of Human Services, the Governor's Commission on Senior Services, the Oregon Disabilities Commission, and the Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities.
Commission meetings are held in Salem, Oregon on the first Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m., and meetings are open to the public. Time is set aside during the meeting for public comments.
Interested in joining the OHCC?
What we do
The Commission has four major responsibilities:
- To define the qualifications of homecare and personal support workers;
- To create a statewide registry of homecare and personal support workers;
- To provide training opportunities for homecare and personal support workers and consumers; and
- To serve as the "employer of record" for purposes of collective bargaining for homecare and personal support workers who receive service payments that are from public funds.
How we do it
The Commission carries out its responsibilities and duties through these working committees and workgroups.
- HCW Training Committee
- PSW Training Committee
- Registry Committee
- Developmental Disabilities/Mental Health Committee
- Homecare Choice Committees
- Workforce Development Workgroup
- Traditional Health Worker Advisory Group
If you have questions, please contact one of our Oregon Home Care Commission team members.
History
In 2000, the citizens of Oregon voted to amend the State Constitution to create the Home Care Commission. The Commission is responsible for ensuring the high quality of homecare services for seniors and people with disabilities that are funded by the Department of Human Services. During the 2010 Legislative Special Session, House Bill 3618 was enrolled and became law.
As of January 1, 2011, the Commission became responsible for addressing the needs of persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, their family members, and personal support workers while fulfilling its mission.
The Commission facilitates the filing of workers’ compensation claims for homecare workers and, as of January 1, 2011, personal support workers. SAIF Corporation is the workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
As of July 1, 2011, under House Bill 3650, the Commission was directed to work with culturally diverse organizations and groups to recruit, train, and certify homecare workers who desire to become community health workers and personal health navigators.
On March 7, 2014, Senate Bill 1542 was signed that directed the Home Care Commission to establish and administer a program to allow private pay consumers to purchase homecare services from the Commission through its Registry.