Why are there Changes to the Plan of Care?
The ODDS' Compass project has been moving forward for many years now. One major goal of that project includes using an individual's Service Group (which is assigned by their Oregon Needs Assessment) as a key factor in determining an individual's In-Home Hours.
Due to impacts from COVID-19 and also the federal Maintenance of Effort requirement, the transition to using an individual's Service Group for this purpose was delayed. However, beginning April 1st, 2025, the Oregon Needs Assessment became the sole tool used to determine an individual’s available in-home support hours.
When an Oregon Needs Assessment is completed for an individual, they are assigned to one of the following Service Groups.
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 The Service Group gives the person access to monthly in-home support hours that the individual and their Services Coordinator or Personal Agent can use when developing an Individual Support Plan. Each service group has a maximum amount of hours that can be approved which cannot be exceeded without an approved ODDS exception. However, the Individual Support Plan can authorize an amount lower than the maximum allowed by the Service Group.
This change of determining In-Home Hours for an individual based on Service Groups has many benefits, including:
- Keeping person-centered planning at the heart of development of the Individual Support Plan.
- Providing consistency and equity in allocating resources for individuals.
- Making it easier for individuals to understand how and why they are allocated a range of In-Home Hours for service planning.
For any Individual Support Plans that have been created or renewed on or after April 1st, 2025, the Oregon Needs Assessment Service Group has been used when determining the number of in-home hours an individual will have.
The transition for all individuals to using their Service Group for determining In-Home hours will be completed on April 1, 2026. At that time, every person with In-Home Services will have an hour allocation based on their Service Group along with any approved ODDS exception.
What is Changing in the Plan of Care?
Beginning with Plans of Care that have a start date that is on or after April 1st, 2026, eXPRS will now compare the number of In-Home hours that are entered on an individual’s Plan of Care with the hours that are available in their Service Group!
We call this “In-Home Hours Service Group Validation”, because eXPRS is validating that the individual’s In-Home Hours that are entered on their Plan of Care does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by their Service Group along with any approved ODDS exception.
For example, in the screenshot below, we see a preview of the new Authorized Monthly Hours section on the Plan of Care. This field replaces the current Monthly Assessed Attendant Care Hours section. Along with that, there is an instructional message highlighted, which shows the maximum hours that can be authorized for an adult in Service Group 3.
eXPRS validates any amount entered in the Hour Limit field against the maximum hours available to an individual in that Service Group along with any approved ODDS exception. If an amount of hours that is higher than the maximum is entered, then a validation message will display.
In order to proceed, the amount entered will have to be within the hours limit allocated by the individual's Service Group, in addition to any ODDS-approved exceptions to that hour limit.
How will this Affect Your Work?
eXPRS Users that enter Hours Limits, Plan Lines or Service Prior Authorizations into an individual's Plan of Care will want to be thoroughly familiar with the Service Group framework. This includes understanding how to modify existing Plans of Care if needed, and how School Hours and Summer Hours for children differ.
Additionally, Case Managers will want to be proactive about completing or updating Individual Support Plans on time. When updating plans, it is best practice to begin planning at least 60 days in advance of the Individual Support Plan renewal date. This is especially important in situations where an individual may need to request an exception for an increase in their In-Home Hours Limit beyond the maximum amount provided by their Service Group.
Lastly, ONA Assessors, Case Managers, and eXPRS Users will want to maintain good communication regarding changes in an individual's Service Group, their Individual Support Plan, or Plan Lines and Authorizations. This will ensure that services are not disrupted for the individual, and that providers receive payments on time.
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What will we cover in future communications?
We want you to be prepared and feel confident to work in eXPRS along with this new functionality, so here’s a breakdown of what you can expect in future communications:
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November 2025 – An in-depth look at creating and copying a Plan of Care with a start date on or after April 1st, 2026. Also, review of the new Authorized Monthly Hours Section.
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December 2025 – An explanation of what to expect on a Plan of Care when an individual’s Service Group increases or decreases in the middle of their Plan Year.
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January 2026 – An explanation of In-Home Hour Add Ons, including how they are created and how they impact a Plan of Care.
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February 2026 – Guidance for specific situations that might occur when creating of updating Plans of Care.
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March 2026 – A review of all available resources, including trainings, guides and other eXPRS and ODDS content.
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April 2026 – Any additional updates or guidance that is available.
And all along the way, we will be producing videos and help guides as part of these communications, and also hosting webinars as a resource for you!
What Resources are Available Right Now?
ODDS has communicated extensively about the changes around In-Home Hours during recent years. Here are just a few key resources that you can find on the ODDS Website > Compass Project to learn more about topics related to this change:
As we move toward April 2026, our goal is to ensure that all eXPRS Users at our Case Management Entity partners feels informed, supported, and ready. And remember, the changes being discussed only apply to Plans of Care with a start date that is on or after April 1st, 2026. Plans of care with an earlier start date will continue to function as usual.
eXPRS-Related Questions or Feedback?
We know that change can bring up questions—and we want to hear yours! Your feedback helps us shape training and resources that truly meet your needs. Click the Survey button below to share your eXPRS-related questions or topics you'd like to learn more about.
Need Assistance?
Our team is always here to assist you! If you encounter issues or need help with working in eXPRS, please submit a Technical Assistance Request by selecting Customer Service > eXPRS Technical Assistance Request from the top menu bar.
 These get routed to the eXPRS Technical Assistance Unit for follow up and resolution of your issues. You can also email us at our Info.eXPRS@odhsoha.oregon.gov inbox.
For any policy related questions, email ODDS.Questions@odhsoha.oregon.gov
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