309-035-0170 Temporary rule language in effect until 06/27/2026. Standards for Residency Transfers and Discharges (1) Each provider’s transfer and discharge policy and procedure must designate the program staff responsible for each step of the process for transferring or discharging residency. The provider must designate responsibilities organized and assigned to promote a fair and efficient transfer and discharge process. Unless otherwise designated as a condition of licensing or in contract language approved by the Division, the program administrator is responsible for initiating and coordinating transfer and discharge proceedings. The provider must make reasonable efforts to prevent unnecessary transfer and discharges by making reasonable accommodations within the program and setting. (2) A resident or a resident’s legal representative as applicable, may terminate residency in a program upon providing at least 30-days' written notice. Upon mutual agreement between the administrator and the resident or resident’s legal representative as applicable, less than 30 days’ notice may be provided. This agreement may be limited under a court, OHA, CMHP, or PSRB order. The provider must immediately document the resident’s notification of intent to voluntarily move in the resident records. (3) When circumstances arise providing grounds for issuing a notice of involuntary transfer or discharge under this section, the program administrator must discuss these grounds with the resident, the resident’s legal representative or the supervising entity, if applicable, and with the resident's or the resident’s legal representative’s permission, other persons with an interest in the resident's circumstances. If a decision is made to transfer or discharge the resident, the program administrator must provide at least 30 days’ written notice specifying the cause(s) for the notice in the form and manner required by the Division to the resident, the resident’s legal representative or supervisory entity, if applicable, the CMHP and the Division. This notice must specify the resident's right to an administrative hearing and cannot be given without prior approval of the Division. (4) When a resident’s behavior has directly resulted in serious physical harm to other residents in the program or program staff, the program administrator may initiate a less than 30 days but no less than 24 hours advance written notice in the form and manner required by the Division to the resident, the resident’s legal representative or the supervisory entity, if applicable, the CMHP, and Division specifying the cause(s) of an involuntary transfer or discharge. This notice must specify the resident’s right to an administrative hearing for involuntary transfer or discharge and cannot be given without the prior approval of the Division. (5) Early transfer or discharge may occur with less than 30 days advance notice with the mutual agreement of the program administrator and the resident when the resident does not have a legal representative and is not under the jurisdiction of a supervisory entity, or the resident’s legal representative, if applicable, when the resident is not under the jurisdiction of a supervisory entity, or the supervisory entity, if applicable. (6) Grounds for transfer or discharge include the following: (a) The resident no longer needs or desires services provided by the program and expresses a desire to move to an alternative setting, unless the resident is placed with the provider by a supervisory entity, or with the consent of the resident’s legal representative; (b) The resident is assessed by a Licensed Medical Professional or other qualified health professional to require services such as continuous nursing care or extended hospitalization that are not available or cannot be reasonably arranged at the program; (c) The resident's behavior is continuously and significantly disruptive or poses a threat to the health or safety of self or others, and these behavioral concerns cannot be adequately addressed with services available at the setting or with services that can be arranged outside of the program setting; (d) The resident cannot safely evacuate the setting in accordance with the setting's Occupancy Classification after efforts described in OAR 309-035-0145(6)(b) have been taken; (e) Nonpayment of room and board fees in accordance with program's fee policy; (f) The resident has moved from the setting or has been absent without notice for more than seven consecutive days and the provider has not been able to confirm the resident’s intent to continue or discontinue residency; (g) The resident has been incarcerated, and the provider has been notified by the supervisory entity that the resident will remain incarcerated for longer than 30 days. The transfer or discharge process must be voided if the resident returns to the program prior to the final date of residency indicated on the written notice; (h) The IQA has determined services and supports from the program are no longer required; (i) The resident’s revocation has been ordered by the supervisory entity; or (j) The program has had its license revoked, not renewed, suspended, voluntarily surrendered, or has terminated its Medicaid contract. (7) Except in the case of emergency transfer or discharge, or crisis-respite services, a pre-transfer and discharge meeting must be held with the resident, the resident’s legal representative or the supervising entity, if applicable, the CMHP, and with the resident's or the resident’s legal representative’s permission, others interested in the resident's circumstances. The purpose of the meeting is to plan any arrangements necessitated by the transfer and discharge decision. The meeting must be scheduled to occur at least two weeks prior to the transfer or discharge date. In the event a pre-transfer and discharge meeting is not held, the reason must be documented in the resident service record. (8) Documentation of discussions and meetings held concerning transfer and discharge of a resident and copies of notices must be maintained in the resident service record. (9) Except when a program has had its license revoked, not renewed, suspended, voluntarily surrendered, or terminates its Medicaid contract, a resident who received a notice of involuntary transfer and discharge is entitled to an administrative hearing: (a) Provided the resident, the resident’s legal representative, if applicable, or the authorized representative, if applicable, completes and submits the administrative hearing request in the form and manner required by the Division to the CMHP and the Division: (A) Within ten (10) business days from the date a 30-day notice of involuntary transfer and discharge was received; or (B) Within five (5) business days from the date a less than 30-day notice of involuntary transfer and discharge was received. (b) The resident may receive assistance in submitting the request for an administrative hearing. If requested by the resident, program staff must be available to assist the resident. (c) The program remains responsible for the provision of care and services as identified in the person-centered service plan during the administrative hearing process unless and until the resident has moved. Care and services include the provision of one-to-one supervision if necessary to ensure the safety of all residents. (d) The Division will review the notice of transfer or discharge to verify the notice meets the regulatory criteria. If the notice does not meet the regulatory criteria, the Division will notify the provider they must withdraw the notice. (e) The resident has the right to remain in the program until due process is complete or the supervisory entity has ordered otherwise. (10) If the notice of transfer and discharge meets the regulatory criteria, the Division will notify the Office of Administrative Hearings of the request for an administrative hearing and for less than 30-day notices, will request an expedited hearing be held within five (5) business days. (11) At the time of transfer or discharge of a resident, the resident must be provided a written statement of account, any balance of funds held by the program, and all property held in trust or custody by the program. In the case of a resident’s property being left at the setting for longer than seven days after resident has moved, the program must make a reasonable attempt to contact the resident or the resident’s legal representative, if applicable. The program must allow the resident or the resident’s legal representative, if applicable, at least 15 calendar days to make arrangements concerning the property. If the program determines that the resident has abandoned the property, the program may then dispose of the property. If the property is sold, proceeds of the sale minus the amount of any expenses incurred and any amounts owed the program by or on behalf of the resident must be forwarded to the resident or the resident’s legal representative, if applicable. (12) The end of a supervisory entity’s jurisdiction is not cause for a program to issue a notice of involuntary transfer or discharge. (13) If a resident moves out of the setting without providing notice or is absent without notice for more than seven consecutive days, the provider may initiate the transfer or discharge process as described in 309-035-0170(2). The provider must make an attempt to contact the resident and must contact the resident’s legal representative or supervisory entity, if applicable, and with the resident’s or the resident’s legal representative’s permission, if applicable, others interested in the resident’s circumstances to confirm the resident’s intent to discontinue residency. The transfer or discharge process must be discontinued if the resident returns to the program prior to the final date of residency indicated on the written notice. (14) When a resident's right to an administrative hearing for involuntary transfer or discharge is initiated, the Division may determine the notice was issued wrongfully and take action on the program’s license up to and including revocation as outlined in OAR 309-035-0280. (15) Upon transfer or discharge from the program, program staff must offer two doses of an FDA-approved short-acting, non-injectable, opioid antagonist medication to the resident. If the resident accepts, program staff must: (a) Provide the resident with an instruction card on the use of short-acting, non-injectable, opioid antagonist medication; and (b) Document distribution of the short-acting, non-injectable, opioid antagonist medication in the resident’s record. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 413.042 & 443.450 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 413.032, 443.400 - 443.465 & 443.991 History: BHS 32-2025, temporary amend filed 12/30/2025, effective 01/01/2026 through 06/27/2026 BHS 11-2025, minor correction filed 04/12/2025, effective 04/12/2025 BHS 10-2025, minor correction filed 04/08/2025, effective 04/08/2025 BHS 4-2025, amend filed 02/28/2025, effective 03/01/2025 BHS 6-2024, amend filed 04/11/2024, effective 04/11/2024 BHS 1-2024, temporary amend filed 01/09/2024, effective 01/10/2024 through 04/11/2024 BHS 41-2023, temporary amend filed 10/12/2023, effective 10/15/2023 through 04/11/2024 MHS 5-2017, f. & cert. ef. 6-8-17 MHS 2-2017(Temp), f. 3-3-17, cert. ef. 3-4-17 thru 8-30-17 MHS 13-2016(Temp), f. 9-6-16, cert. ef. 9-7-16 thru 3-3-17 MHS 4-2008, f. & cert. ef. 6-12-08 MHD 4-2005, f. & cert. ef. 4-1-05 MHD 4-1998, f. 5-21-98, cert. ef. 6-1-98 MHD 9-1985, f. & ef. 6-7-85 MHD 9-1984(Temp), f. & ef. 12-10-84