SALEM, Ore. – First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson testified before the House Committee on Behavioral Health, advocating for House Bill 4083 to cut red tape for behavioral health workers. The bill aims to streamline credentialing, reduce administrative burdens, and expand access to clinical supervision.
House Bill 4083 proposes a centralized credentialing process to help qualified workers begin providing care sooner. “Providers told us they’re drowning in paperwork and struggling to find clinical supervisors for associates,” Kotek Wilson said. “House Bill 4083 addresses what they need now.”
The bill also seeks to minimize unnecessary administrative requirements that contribute to burnout. Gov. Kotek emphasized the importance of these changes, stating, “Oregon’s behavioral health workforce is stretched beyond capacity, and we cannot afford to lose more skilled professionals to unnecessary red tape.”
The bill’s expansion of clinical supervision access is crucial for prospective licensees. Rachel Knaff, a Clinical Social Work Associate, expressed how the bill could have expedited her licensing process. “I and countless other associates are stuck in a frustrating cycle,” Knaff said.
The need for reform is urgent, as a survey by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission revealed high turnover risk among behavioral health professionals. More than two-thirds of workers intend to quit, leaving Oregonians without necessary care.
Gov. Kotek has prioritized addressing this workforce crisis, commissioning a comprehensive Behavioral Health Talent Assessment. House Bill 4083 is the first step in implementing the Council’s recommendations to improve Oregon’s behavioral health system.