OAR 415-012-0080: Complaints

(1) Any person who believes that administrative rules have been violated may file a complaint with the Division: (a) The Division may require that complainant exhaust grievance procedures available to them through the provider prior to initiation of an investigation; (b) The Division shall investigate complaints and notify the provider of the results of the investigation and any proposed action. (2) A record shall be maintained by the Division of all complaints and any action taken on the complaint and shall: (a) Be placed into the public file. Any information regarding the investigation of the complaint may not be filed in the public file until the investigation has been completed; (b) Protect the identification of the complainant; and (c) Treat the identities of the witnesses and individuals as confidential information. (3) Any person may inspect and receive a photocopy of the public complaint files maintained by the Division upon requesting an appointment to do so. A fee shall be charged in accordance with OAR chapter 407, division 003. (4) Providers who acquire substantiated complaints pertaining to the health, safety, or welfare of individuals may have their licenses suspended, revoked, or not renewed and arrangements made to move the individuals. (5) The provider shall not retaliate against any individual for filing a complaint with the Division by: (a) Increasing charges, decreasing services, rights, or privileges; (b) Threatening to increase charges or decrease services, rights, or privileges; (c) Taking or threatening to take any action to coerce or compel the individual to leave the facility; or (d) Abusing or threatening to harass or abuse an individual in any manner. (6) The provider may not retaliate against any complainant, witness, or employee of a facility for making a report to or being interviewed by the Division about a complaint including restriction to access to the service or to an individual or, if an employee, to dismissal or harassment.