ORS 179.620
Liability of person or estate for cost of care


(1)

A person and the personal estate of the person, or a decedent’s estate, is liable for the full cost of care. Full cost of care is established according to ORS 179.701 (Determination of cost-of-care rates).

(2)

While the person is liable for the full cost of care, the maximum amount a person is required to pay toward the full cost of care shall be determined according to the person’s ability to pay. Ability to pay is determined as provided in ORS 179.640 (Determination of ability to pay).

(3)

Upon the death of a person, the decedent’s estate shall be liable for any unpaid cost of care. The liability of the decedent’s estate is limited to the cost of care incurred on or after July 24, 1979. The decedent’s estate shall not include assets placed in trust for the person by other persons. Collection of any amount from a decedent’s estate shall be pursuant to ORS 179.740 (Collection from estates).

(4)

Regardless of subsection (1) of this section and ORS 179.610 (Definitions for ORS 179.610 to 179.770) (5), assets held in trust by a trustee for a person are subject to laws generally applicable to trusts.

(5)

Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (3) of this section, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority may not collect the cost of care from:

(a)

Any assets received by or owing to a person and the personal estate of the person, or the decedent’s estate, as compensation from the state for injury, death or, if the collection is being made by the Department of Corrections, the false imprisonment of the person that occurred when the person was in a state institution listed in ORS 179.321 (Responsibility to supervise state institutions) or in the Eastern Oregon Training Center and for which the state admits liability or is found liable through adjudication; and

(b)

Any real or personal property of the personal estate of the person, or the decedent’s estate, that the person or an authorized representative of the person can demonstrate was purchased solely with assets referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection or partially with such assets, to the extent such assets were used in the purchase. [1959 c.652 §2; 1961 c.501 §1; 1973 c.823 §§122,158; 1979 c.684 §2; 1989 c.348 §2; 1999 c.159 §1; 2001 c.487 §2; 2009 c.595 §148; 2013 c.36 §58]

Source: Section 179.620 — Liability of person or estate for cost of care, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors179.­html.

Notes of Decisions

State is entitled to reimbursement for cost of institutionalization from assets of institutionalized person, including cash and savings accounts, and is not limited to reimbursement from current income of institutionalized person. McCauley v. Department of Revenue, 30 Or App 87, 566 P2d 537 (1977), Sup Ct review denied

Purported inequality arising from Mental Health Division’s practice of charging persons other than transferees from Department of Corrections did not immunize petitioners under Equal Protection Clauses of state and federal constitutions from lawful obligations to pay charges for cost of care at division’s facilities. Fredenburg v. Mental Health Div., 106 Or App 337, 807 P2d 812 (1991), as modified by 107 Or App 425, 812 P2d 432 (1991)

Attorney General Opinions

Liability for cost of care of person in state institution, (1975) Vol 37, p 357

179.010
Definitions
179.040
General powers and duties
179.045
Reports on convictions
179.050
Authority to hold property
179.055
Disposition of income from property
179.065
Furnishing utilities for institutions
179.105
Acceptance of federal or other assistance to carry out general powers and duties
179.110
Use of federal grants
179.130
Institutional petty cash fund
179.140
Auditing and paying claims
179.150
Interest in contracts prohibited
179.210
Claim for injury or damage
179.230
Rejection of claim final and not reviewable
179.240
Procedure where award due person owing debt to state
179.310
“Superintendent” defined
179.321
Responsibility to supervise state institutions
179.325
Change in use of institution for persons with developmental disabilities or mental illness
179.331
Appointment, suspension and removal of superintendents
179.340
Salaries and expenses of superintendents
179.360
Powers and duties of superintendents
179.370
Residence of superintendents at institutions
179.375
Chaplaincy services
179.380
Employment of staff
179.385
Scholarship programs to train personnel for institutions
179.390
Appointment, suspension, removal and salaries of assistants, officers and employees
179.400
Rentals to officers and employees at institution
179.405
License required for teachers at institution
179.440
Work in production of articles and performance of labor for state
179.450
Work on state-owned land
179.460
Sale and exchange of surplus products of institutions
179.471
Definitions for ORS 179.473 and 179.478
179.473
Transfers between institutions
179.478
Examination for intellectual disability
179.479
Conveyance of adults in custody from institution to physician or hospital for treatment
179.483
Time spent pursuant to transfer or conveyance counted as part of sentence
179.485
Rights of person transferred to institution for persons with mental illness or intellectual disabilities
179.486
Payment of costs in connection with transfers and conveyances
179.490
Authorization and payment of cost of emergency and necessary operations
179.492
Dispensing of brand-name mental health drugs
179.495
Disclosure of written accounts of adult in custody
179.505
Disclosure of written accounts by health care services provider
179.507
Enforcement of ORS 179.495 and 179.505
179.508
Disclosure of individually identifiable health information about adult in custody
179.509
Reports on deaths at institutions
179.510
“Funds” defined
179.520
Authorization to receive funds of institution residents
179.530
Disbursements from accounts
179.560
Members
179.570
Powers and duties of board
179.580
Ad hoc committees
179.610
Definitions for ORS 179.610 to 179.770
179.620
Liability of person or estate for cost of care
179.640
Determination of ability to pay
179.653
Unpaid costs as lien on property
179.655
Enforcement of lien
179.660
Guardian or conservator for estate of person in institution
179.701
Determination of cost-of-care rates
179.711
Remittance of amounts due
179.731
Waiver of collection of amount payable
179.740
Collection from estates
179.745
Title to and transfer of property
179.750
Equal care and services for persons in state institutions
179.770
Rules
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