reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
33 V.S.A. § 6205
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 62 - Older Vermonters Act|§ 6205. Area agencies on aging; duties

§ 6205. Area agencies on aging; duties|(a) Consistent with the Older Americans Act and in consultation with local home- and community-based service providers, each area agency on aging shall:  (1) develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated system of services, supports, and protections for older Vermonters, family caregivers, and kinship caregivers within the agency's designated service area; (2) target services and supports to older Vermonters with the greatest economic and social need; (3) perform regional needs assessments to identify existing resources and gaps; (4) develop an area plan with goals, objectives, and performance measures, and a corresponding budget, and submit them to the State Unit on Aging for approval; (5) concentrate resources, build community partnerships, and enter into cooperate agreements with agencies and organizations for delivery of services; (6) designate community focal points for colocation of supports and services for older Vermonters; and (7) conduct outreach activities to identify individuals eligible for assistance.   (b) In addition to the duties described in subsection (a) of this section, the area agencies on aging shall:  (1) promote the principles established in section 6202 of this chapter across the agencies' programs and shall collaborate with stakeholders to educate the public about the importance of each principle; (2) promote collaboration with a network of service providers to provide a holistic approach to improving health outcomes for older Vermonters; and (3) use their existing area plans to facilitate awareness of aging issues, needs, and services and to promote the system principles expressed in section 6202 of this chapter. (Added 2019, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Oct. 5, 2020.)
33 V.S.A. § 6301
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 63 - Home Care Programs|§ 6301. Policy

§ 6301. Policy|It is the policy of the State of Vermont to ensure that all residents in every town within the State have access to comprehensive, medically necessary home health services without regard to their ability to pay for those services and to ensure that such services are delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner, under a regulatory framework designed to control costs and ensure access to high quality home health services based on a model that promotes cooperation and nonduplication of services, rather than unregulated competition. (Added 2005, No. 57, § 8, eff. June 13, 2005.)
33 V.S.A. § 6302
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 63 - Home Care Programs|§ 6302. Definitions

§ 6302. Definitions|As used in this subchapter, unless otherwise indicated:  (1) "Family member" means an individual who is related to a person by blood, civil marriage, civil union, or adoption, or who considers himself or herself to be family based upon bonds of affection, and who currently shares a household with such a person or has, in the past, shared a household with that person. For purposes of this definition, the phrase "bonds of affection" means enduring ties that do not depend on the existence of an economic relationship. (2) "Home health agency" means a for-profit or nonprofit health care facility providing part-time or intermittent skilled nursing services and at least one of the following other therapeutic services made available on a visiting basis, in a place of residence used as a patient's home: physical, speech, or occupational therapy; medical social services; home health aide services; or other non-nursing therapeutic services, including the services of nutritionists, dieticians, psychologists, and licensed mental health counselors. (3) "Home health services" means activities and functions of a home health agency, including nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, medical social workers, or other non-nursing therapeutic services directly related to care, treatment, or diagnosis of patients in the home. (Added 2005, No. 57, § 8, eff. June 13, 2005; amended 2009, No. 3, § 12a, eff. Sept. 1, 2009.)
33 V.S.A. § 6305
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 63 - Home Care Programs|§ 6305. Review of access, cost, and quality issues; remediation process

§ 6305. Review of access, cost, and quality issues; remediation process|(a) The Commissioner shall exercise such duties and responsibilities as shall be necessary for the implementation of this subchapter and for the active, ongoing supervision of the activities of the home health agencies under this subchapter.(b) In a form and manner and at intervals prescribed by the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall collect and analyze data regarding access to and the cost and quality of home health services in Vermont. Such data shall include information on complaints, waiting lists, numbers of individuals ineligible for services, numbers of individuals eligible for but not provided services, numbers of patients served under 65 years of age and 65 years of age and over, total number of visits and hours provided to patients by each of the existing home health agencies; the results of patient surveys conducted by the home health agencies; data pertaining to federal and State surveys; scoring by any national accrediting organization; charitable and subsidized programs and services for uninsured or low income persons in their respective communities; copies of audited financial statements and annual cost reports; and any other quality measures or data deemed relevant by the Commissioner to monitor and evaluate access to and the cost and quality of home health services by the designated home health agencies.(c) The Commissioner shall consider the data collected under subsection (b) of this section in undertaking active, ongoing supervision to monitor performance of the designated home health agencies with respect to access, cost, and quality of home health services.(d) If the Commissioner determines that a home health agency has failed to comply with any performance standards established by the Commissioner related to access, cost, or quality issues in any area of the State, or has violated a rule or provision of this subchapter, the Commissioner may investigate and enforce the provisions of this subchapter pursuant to the authority and procedures conferred upon the Commissioner under chapter 71 of this title as if the home health agency were a nursing home, except that the Commissioner shall adopt by rule penalties specific to home health agencies. (Added 2005, No. 57, § 8, eff. June 13, 2005; amended 2015, No. 11, § 39; 2021, No. 20, § 337.)
33 V.S.A. § 6307
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 63 - Home Care Programs|§ 6307. Contracts with nondesignated agencies

§ 6307. Contracts with nondesignated agencies|The Commissioner may enter into agreements with home health agencies or with any public or private agency for the purpose of establishing specialized home health services needed but not available from the designated home health agencies. (Added 2005, No. 57, § 8, eff. June 13, 2005.)
33 V.S.A. § 6308
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 63 - Home Care Programs|§ 6308. Complaint process

§ 6308. Complaint process|The Commissioner shall establish by rule standards and procedures ensuring that each designated home health agency has in place sufficient minimum grievance procedures allowing recipients of home health services, their family members, and employees of a home health agency to file complaints about access to or the cost or quality of home health services, or about other matters related to the operations of the home health agency. In addition, the rules shall ensure that the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living establishes and maintains an external complaint process for clients, their family members, and employees of a home health agency, including a toll-free telephone line dedicated to receiving consumer complaints. (Added 2005, No. 57, § 8, eff. June 13, 2005.)
33 V.S.A. § 6501
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 65 - Medicare and General Assistance Beneficiaries; Balance Billing|§ 6501. Definitions

§ 6501. Definitions|As used in this chapter:  (1) "Balance bill" means to charge to or collect from a Medicare or General Assistance beneficiary any amount in excess of the reasonable charge for that service as determined by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access, as the case may be. (2) "General Assistance beneficiary" means a person who receives assistance under chapter 21 of this title. (3) "Medicare beneficiary" means a person who is a beneficiary of health insurance under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. (4) "Physician" has the same meaning as in 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(r). (Added 1987, No. 51, § 1; amended 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 124; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.76; 2021, No. 20, § 339.)
33 V.S.A. § 6502
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 65 - Medicare and General Assistance Beneficiaries; Balance Billing|§ 6502. Balance billing prohibited

§ 6502. Balance billing prohibited|A physician who agrees to treat a Medicare or General Assistance beneficiary shall not balance bill the beneficiary except as provided in section 6503 of this chapter. (Added 1987, No. 51, § 1; amended 2021, No. 20, § 340.)
33 V.S.A. § 6503
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 65 - Medicare and General Assistance Beneficiaries; Balance Billing|§ 6503. Exceptions

§ 6503. Exceptions|The provisions of section 6502 of this title shall not apply and the physician may balance bill a Medicare beneficiary if:  (1) During the calendar year prior to treatment, the Medicare beneficiary (or his or her spouse with whom he or she lived at any time during that year):  (A) received Social Security benefits or railroad retirement benefits (Tier I treated as Social Security) which were subject to federal income taxation; or (B) did not receive Social Security benefits or railroad retirement benefits (Tier I treated as Social Security) but, had such benefits been received, they would have been subject to federal income taxation.  (2) The Medicare beneficiary refuses to sign the statement authorized by section 6504 of this title; or (3) The service for which the beneficiary is to be billed is either an office or home visit. Office or home visits are listed as procedure codes 90000 through 90170 in the Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology, Fourth Edition (1986) published by the American Medical Association, as amended annually. Office or home visit codes for dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, and chiropractors shall be the same (or equivalent) procedure codes used for doctors of medicine or osteopathy. (Added 1987, No. 51, § 1.)
33 V.S.A. § 6504
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 65 - Medicare and General Assistance Beneficiaries; Balance Billing|§ 6504. Medicare beneficiary to sign statement

§ 6504. Medicare beneficiary to sign statement|Annually and prior to treatment, a physician may request that a Medicare beneficiary sign a statement prepared in accordance with this section to determine whether or not the beneficiary may be balance billed. The exceptions contained in subdivision 6503(1) of this title shall not apply if the physician does not request that the beneficiary sign the statement. The statement shall be prepared by the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, and shall incorporate the exceptions contained in subdivision 6503(1) of this title. (Added 1987, No. 51, § 1; amended 1989, No. 219 (Adj. Sess.), § 9(a); 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 125.)
33 V.S.A. § 6505
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 65 - Medicare and General Assistance Beneficiaries; Balance Billing|§ 6505. Assistance with claims required

§ 6505. Assistance with claims required|A physician who agrees to treat a Medicare beneficiary shall prepare the Medicare claim for the beneficiary. (Added 1987, No. 51, § 1.)
33 V.S.A. § 6506
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 65 - Medicare and General Assistance Beneficiaries; Balance Billing|§ 6506. Posting

§ 6506. Posting|A physician who treats Medicare or General Assistance beneficiaries shall post a summary of the provisions of this chapter in a conspicuous place in his or her office. The summary shall include the statement that any person aggrieved by a physician's failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter may contact the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living for assistance or file a complaint with the State Board of Medical Practice within the Department of Health and shall include toll-free telephone numbers to be used for these purposes. The summary shall be written by the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living and distributed by the Secretary of State. (Added 1987, No. 51, § 1; amended 1989, No. 219 (Adj. Sess.) § 9(a); 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 126; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 81.)
33 V.S.A. § 6507
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 65 - Medicare and General Assistance Beneficiaries; Balance Billing|§ 6507. Administration; enforcement

§ 6507. Administration; enforcement|(a) A person aggrieved by a violation of the provisions of this chapter may file a complaint with the State Board of Medical Practice within the Department of Health. The matter shall be investigated by the Board and shall be subject to the provisions of 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, relating to contested cases.(b) The Board of Medical Practice may, after hearing, impose an administrative penalty of not more than $50.00 against any physician who violates the provisions of section 6505 or 6506 of this title relating to assistance and posting.(c) The Board of Medical Practice may, after hearing, order a physician who balance billed in violation of the provisions of this chapter to make restitution of any monies received from a Medicare or General Assistance beneficiary as a result of such billing. (Added 1987, No. 51, § 1; amended 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 82, eff. May 20, 2014.)
33 V.S.A. § 6701
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 67 - Medicare Advocacy Program|§ 6701. Definitions

§ 6701. Definitions|As used in this chapter:  (1) "Dual eligible individual" means an individual who is a beneficiary of both Medicaid and Medicare. (2) "Medicaid" means the medical assistance program authorized under chapter 19 of this title. (3) "Medicare" means the health insurance programs authorized under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. (Added 1989, No. 259 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
33 V.S.A. § 6702
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 67 - Medicare Advocacy Program|§ 6702. Program established

§ 6702. Program established|A Medicare Advocacy Program is established for the purpose of ensuring through legal and other advocacy services that dual eligible individuals receive the Medicare coverage to which they are entitled. In addition to serving individual beneficiaries, the program may participate on behalf of dual eligible individuals in reform litigation and Medicare related administrative or judicial proceedings. (Added 1989, No. 259 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
33 V.S.A. § 6703
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 67 - Medicare Advocacy Program|§ 6703. Contract for services

§ 6703. Contract for services|(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner of Vermont Health Access shall contract on an annual basis with individuals or private organizations to provide services authorized by this chapter to dual eligible individuals including pursuit of subrogation claims under section 6705 of this chapter.(b) The Commissioner shall not be required to enter into contracts under this section if both of the following conditions are met:  (1) The amount of the State's share of recoveries to the Medicaid program from awards obtained under this chapter during the preceding year did not exceed the payments to the contractors during that year. (2) The Commissioner determines that the program is not accomplishing its goal of protecting dual eligible individuals from improper denials of Medicare coverage. The Commissioner shall base this determination on information obtained from the contractors, providers of health care, area agencies on aging, and other individuals and organizations affected by the program. (Added 1989, No. 259 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 128; 2009, No. 33, § 68; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.77; 2021, No. 20, § 341.)
33 V.S.A. § 6704
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 67 - Medicare Advocacy Program|§ 6704. Charges

§ 6704. Charges|Dual eligible individuals shall not be charged for services provided under this chapter. (Added 1989, No. 259 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
33 V.S.A. § 6705
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 67 - Medicare Advocacy Program|§ 6705. Subrogation

§ 6705. Subrogation|(a) Upon furnishing medical assistance under chapter 19 of this title to any individual, the Department of Vermont Health Access shall be subrogated, to the extent of the expenditure for medical care furnished, to any rights such individual may have to third party reimbursement for such care.(b) The Department of Vermont Health Access or its designee shall be entitled to obtain from any medical service provider any records of the treatment of any individual covered by subsection (a) of this section that are in any way relevant to the treatment paid for through medical assistance without regard to any other privilege or right of confidentiality or privacy that may exist. The Department shall ensure that any records obtained are not released to any other individual, agency, or other entity except as necessary to pursue the Department's rights of subrogation.(c) The Department of Vermont Health Access may contract with a private attorney or attorneys, or other private persons, for the purpose of obtaining third party reimbursement for Medicaid expenditures under this section. In awarding contracts under this section, the Department shall give preference to bidders who maintain a place of business in this State. (Added 1989, No. 259 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1995, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 129; 2009, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § I.78; 2021, No. 20, § 342.)
33 V.S.A. § 6706
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 67 - Medicare Advocacy Program|§ 6706. Independent analysis

§ 6706. Independent analysis|The Commissioner of Financial Regulation shall adopt rules to ensure an in-depth independent analysis by an expert, or experts, of proposed Medicare supplement insurance policy rate increases. This analysis shall be performed only when the composite average rate increase requested by insurers with 5,000 or more lives in the Vermont Medicare supplement insurance policy market exceeds three percent, or when the Commissioner finds that the proposed premium and policy changes will have a comparable adverse impact on availability or cost of coverage, or when it otherwise appears to be in the best interests of the insureds. A composite average rate is the enrollment-weighted average rate increase of all plans offered by a carrier. The independent analyst shall be made available to the public during the analysis and for the purpose of providing assistance with and testimony in connection with Medicare supplement insurance policy rate increase proposals. The cost for the analysis shall be assessed to the affected policy or certificate holders. (Added 1989, No. 259 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1991, No. 251 (Adj. Sess.); 1995, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 38(a); 1999, No. 43, § 2; 2003, No. 18, § 2; 2011, No. 78 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 2, 2012; 2021, No. 20, § 343.)
33 V.S.A. § 6901
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 69 - Reports of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults|§ 6901. Purpose

§ 6901. Purpose|The purpose of this chapter is to protect vulnerable adults whose health and welfare may be adversely affected through abuse, neglect, or exploitation; provide a temporary or permanent nurturing and safe environment for vulnerable adults when necessary; and for these purposes to require the reporting of suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults and the investigation of such reports and provision of services, when needed; and to intervene in the family or substitute care situation only when necessary to ensure proper care and protection of a vulnerable adult or to carry out other statutory responsibilities. (Added 1979, No. 150 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1985, No. 78, § 1; 2001, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. June 13, 2002.)
33 V.S.A. § 6904
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 69 - Reports of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults|§ 6904. Nature and content of report; to whom made

§ 6904. Nature and content of report; to whom made|A report shall be made orally or in writing to the Commissioner or designee as soon as possible, but in no event later than 48 hours thereafter. The report may also be made to a law enforcement officer. If an oral report is made by telephone or otherwise, the Commissioner or designee shall request that it be followed within one week by a report in writing. Reports shall contain the name and address of the reporter as well as the names and addresses of the vulnerable adult and persons responsible for his or her care, if known; the age of the  vulnerable adult; the nature of his or her disability; the nature and extent of the vulnerable adult's abuse, neglect, or exploitation together with any evidence of previous abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the vulnerable adult; and any other information that the reporter believes might be helpful in establishing the cause of any injuries or reasons for the abuse, neglect, or exploitation as well as in protecting the vulnerable adult. If a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involves the acts or omissions of the Commissioner or employees of that Department, then such reports shall be directed to the Secretary of the Human Services who shall cause the report to be investigated by appropriate staff other than staff of the Department. (Added 1979, No. 150 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1985, No. 78, § 4; 1989, No. 76, § 2; 1993, No. 100, § 3; 2001, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. June 13, 2002.)
33 V.S.A. § 6905
2021 Vermont Statutes|Title 33 - Human Services|Chapter 69 - Reports of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults|§ 6905. Mandatory reporting to and postmortem investigation of deaths by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

§ 6905. Mandatory reporting to and postmortem investigation of deaths by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner|When a person making a report of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult has reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult died as a result of abuse or neglect, the Department shall notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner immediately. (Added 1985, No. 78, § 5; amended 2001, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. June 13, 2002; 2015, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)