A Message from ODDS Director Lilia Teninty: Healthcare worker vaccination rules

This message is posted in English, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese at: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/Pages/messages.aspx

Aug. 31, 2021

To: ODDS Partners and Providers
From: Lilia Teninty, Director, Office of Developmental Disabilities Services
Subject: Healthcare worker vaccination rules

Please read this message in its entirety to see how the Health Care Settings Rule and Executive Order regarding vaccine requirements apply to you.

In the developmental disabilities system, we are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. People are still getting sick and dying from this terrible virus. ODDS is committed to the Governor’s mandates and to health and safety.

Vaccination against COVID-19 significantly improves outcomes for all. ODDS has worked hard with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families and providers to help with vaccination outreach and information. The best possible scenario is vaccinated staff serving people with I/DD who are also vaccinated.

On Aug. 19, Gov. Brown announced that Oregon’s vaccination requirement for health care workers will no longer have a testing alternative. Healthcare workers will be required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18, 2021.

The Oregon Health Authority rule came out Aug. 25. For the developmental disabilities system, the vaccination requirement includes 24-hour group homes and I/DD adult foster care settings.

The rule also mandates that any paid or unpaid person who works, learns, studies, assists, observes or volunteers in a health care setting that provides direct resident care and anyone who has the potential for direct or indirect exposures to residents must also be vaccinated on or before Oct. 18, 2021.

For that reason, this rule includes Case Management Entity staff and any other Medicaid Agency, Provider or Contractor who works in person at a 24-Hour Group Home or Adult Foster Care setting or has direct or indirect contact with any person who resides in a 24-Hour Group Home or Adult Foster Care setting for any reason including monitoring, licensing, investigations, transportation, home modifications, etc.

You can find more information regarding religious and medical exceptions is in the rule and online in the Oregon Health Authority’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Additionally, on Aug. 13, Governor Brown issued Executive Order 21-29 (“EO 21-29”) which requires all executive branch state employees to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18, 2021. This Executive Order also applies to state contractors or “workers” who must be in person at any Executive Branch worksite or state office. This does not apply to visitors or patrons to state offices.

For this reason, any Services Coordinator/Personal Agent, Medicaid Agencies, Providers or other Contractors who as part of their work must be in person at a state office including but not limited to Vocational Rehabilitation, Aging and People with Disabilities, Child Welfare, and Self-Sufficiency branch offices, ODDS administrative offices including the Children’s Residential and Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU) offices, SACU homes, etc. must be vaccinated on or before Oct. 18, 2021.

Please review EO 21-29 for additional details.

Provider agencies can mandate vaccinations for their staff who offer services not included in the state requirement, because ODDS’ determination is that those services are not subject to any statute which would prohibit a vaccination requirement. Agencies should consult their own counsel with further questions if needed.

The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services understands these rules will put additional strain on providers already facing staffing shortages. In response, ODDS has convened a workgroup with providers for creative solutions. We are looking at every possible avenue to support group home and adult foster homes through this period. The priority is the health and safety of people with I/DD. ODDS will do everything possible to support the provider community and Direct Support Professionals that serve people with I/DD.

We will share more details as soon as we have information. Please send questions to DD.DirectorsOffice@dhsoha.state.or.us. ODDS will publish an Action Request with more details soon at https://go.usa.gov/xMq3R.

Sincerely, 

 

Lilia Teninty 

Director 

Office of Developmental Disabilities Services 

 

Previous ODDS Director’s Messages are available at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/Pages/messages.aspx 

 

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You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille or a format you prefer. Contact the Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services at 503-945-5811. We accept calls from all forms of relay service for people who are Deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or have a speech disability. For more information about relay service providers visit www.oregonrelay.com or www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/trs-providers.