Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon SB1575: Relating to hospice licensure; and declaring an emergency.
Status: Chaptered, April 14, 2026
Digest: The Act makes changes to licensing laws for hospice programs. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.7). Adds new requirements for obtaining an initial license to operate and maintain a hospice program. [ Requires a hospice program to apply for a new initial license after a change in ownership. ] Prohibits individuals who have been excluded from participation in Medicare or Medicaid or have been found liable for fraud or abuse from holding an ownership interest in a hospice program. Requires the Oregon Health Authority to complete rulemaking within 24 months. Subject to exceptions, prohibits the authority from issuing new hospice licenses until rulemaking is complete. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 4, 2026:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session Senate Bill 1575 Sponsored by Senators PATTERSON, GELSER BLOUIN, MANNING JR, Representatives ANDERSEN, NELSON; Senators FREDERICK, GOLDEN, GORSEK, JAMA, MEEK, NERON MISSLIN, PROZANSKI, REYNOLDS, TAYLOR, WEBER, Representatives BOWMAN, CHAICHI, CHOTZEN, FRAGALA, GAMBA, GOMBERG, GRAYBER, HARTMAN, LEVY B, MCDONALD, MUNOZ, NATHANSON, NOSSE, PHAM H, TRAN, WALTERS, WISE (Presession filed.) CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to hospice licensure; creating new provisions; amending ORS 443.860; and declaring an emergency. Whereas the provision of high-quality hospice services is essential for the compassionate care of terminally ill Oregonians and their families; and Whereas enhanced regulation of new hospice program licenses is necessary to prevent the rapid proliferation of unqualified or fraudulent providers and to protect vulnerable patients; and Whereas a temporary moratorium on new hospice program licenses is necessary to allow the Oregon Health Authority sufficient time to strengthen licensing standards and enforcement mechanisms; now, therefore, SECTION 1. ORS 443.860 is amended to read: 443.860. (1) A person may not establish, [conduct] operate or maintain a hospice program providing hospice services, or hold itself out to the public as a hospice program, without obtaining a license from the Oregon Health Authority. [(2) The authority:] [(a) Shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of ORS 443.850 to 443.869, including but not limited to rules for licensure that require an in-person site …