Association Value Is More Than a List of Benefitsby Jamie Daugherty, Executive Director Agency leaders are asked to make decisions every day about staffing, compliance, reimbursement, patient care, technology, and growth. At the same time, the rules governing home health, hospice, and in-home care continue to change. In that environment, the value of an association cannot be measured only by discounts, conferences, or how many emails arrive in a member’s inbox. The real value is having someone watching what is coming, interpreting what it means, bringing providers together, and making sure our sector has a voice before decisions are final. Turning Information Into Understanding There is no shortage of healthcare information. Federal agencies, state regulators, legislators, accrediting organizations, contractors, and industry groups publish a constant stream of rules, guidance, notices, and educational materials. The challenge is determining what matters to your agency. An effective association helps separate meaningful changes from background noise. It connects policy developments to agency operations and answers the questions leaders actually have:
That translation is especially important for smaller and rural agencies that may not have dedicated government affairs, legal, or regulatory teams. A Current Oregon Example Oregon’s implementation of SB 1575 demonstrates this value in real time. The Oregon Health Authority recently explained that SB 1575 is already affecting hospice license applications and renewals, even though the state has not yet completed the rules implementing the law. Updated applications now request additional information, including performance history, leadership qualifications, tax status, and evidence of CAHPS participation or exemption. OHA also reported that renewals are moving slowly and advised providers to submit complete documentation to reduce follow-up requests. The agency must complete rulemaking within 24 months of the law’s April 7, 2026, effective date. The new law also places a moratorium on most new hospice licenses until January 2, 2029, or until the implementing rules are in place, with specified exemptions. A provider reading the statute or presentation alone may understand the requirements. But association work goes further. We monitor implementation, identify operational concerns, gather provider experience, communicate questions to state officials, and help members prepare for opportunities to participate in rulemaking. That is association value: not simply forwarding a government notice, but helping providers understand and respond to it. One Agency Can Raise a Concern. An Association Can Establish a Pattern. A single provider can explain how a policy affects its organization. When multiple providers report the same issue, the conversation changes. The association can show whether a challenge is isolated or affecting agencies across Oregon. It can identify unintended consequences for rural communities, nonprofit providers, workforce capacity, or patient access. It can bring practical recommendations forward based on the experience of organizations actually delivering care. That collective voice matters in legislative advocacy, regulatory comments, agency meetings, and conversations with Oregon’s congressional delegation. It also protects individual providers from having to carry every issue alone. Value Also Comes From Connection Some of the most useful association conversations begin with a simple question: “How are other agencies handling this?” Member calls, educational programs, committees, conferences, and peer relationships create opportunities to compare practices and learn from others facing similar challenges. OAHC’s current calendar includes monthly member calls, regulatory education, coding updates, and OASIS-E2 training—resources designed around the operational needs of providers. No association can make reimbursement pressure, workforce shortages, or regulatory complexity disappear. It can, however, help members face those challenges with better information, stronger relationships, and a coordinated response. Membership Is Not a Spectator Activity Association value increases when members participate. That can mean joining a committee, attending a member call, responding to a survey, sharing an operational concern, contacting a legislator, submitting feedback on a proposed rule, or connecting another provider with OAHC. Not every member has time to do everything. No one is expected to. But every provider has experience that can strengthen our collective work. The association belongs to its members. Its value is not only what members receive; it is also what we can accomplish together that no single agency could accomplish as effectively on its own. As our sector faces continued regulatory change, reimbursement pressure, workforce constraints, and increased scrutiny, that collective capacity is not optional infrastructure. It is one of the tools Oregon providers need to protect access to care and shape the future of home-based services. |