Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 007 - ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › Division 05 - Health Facility Services › Rule 007.05.20-003 - Rules For Home and Health Agencies in Arkansas

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
SECTION 1.
PREFACE
These rules have been prepared for the purpose of establishing
				a criterion for minimum standards for the licensure of Home Health Agencies in
				Arkansas that is consistent with current trends in patient care practices. By
				necessity they are of a regulatory nature but are considered to be practical
				minimal design and operational standards for these facilities. These standards
				are not static and are subject to periodic revisions in the future as new
				knowledge and changes in patient care trends become apparent. However, it is
				expected that facilities will exceed these minimum requirements and that they
				will not be dependent upon future revisions in these standards as a necessary
				prerequisite for improved services. Each Home Health Agency has a strong moral
				responsibility for providing optimum patient care and treatment for the
				patients it serves.
SECTION
			 2.
AUTHORITY
The following Rules for Home Health Agencies in Arkansas are
				duly adopted and promulgated by the Arkansas State Board of Health pursuant to
				the authority expressly conferred by the laws of the State of Arkansas in Ark.
				Code Ann. § 20-10-801 et. seq.
SECTION 3.
PURPOSE
In accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 20-10-801 et. seq.,
				rules and minimum standards for home health programs operating in the State of
				Arkansas are hereby established. These rules will ensure high quality
				professional care for patients in their home by providing for the safe,
				appropriate care of all admitted to a home health program regardless of setting
				and shall apply to both new and existing agencies.
SECTION 4.
DEFINITIONS
The following word and terms, when used in these sections,
				shall have the stated meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
				otherwise:
A.
Administrator
-A person who is an agency employee and is a
			 physician, registered nurse, or an individual with at least one year of
			 supervisory or administrative experience in home health care or in related
			 health provider programs.
B.
Aide Assignment Sheet/Aide Service Plan
- written assignments
			 developed and supervised by a qualified supervisor for the tasks to be
			 completed by the aide.
C.
Branch Office
-A location or site from which a Medicare certified
			 home health agency provides services within the contiguous counties of the
			 primary agency POA . The branch office is part of the primary agency and is
			 located sufficiently close to share administrative supervision and services in
			 a manner that renders it unnecessary to obtain a separate license as a home
			 health agency. A branch office shall have at least one registered nurse
			 assigned to that office on a full time basis.
D.
Certified Agency
-A home
			 health agency which holds a letter of approval signed by an official of the
			 Department of Health and Human Services. The agency must be currently in
			 compliance with the Conditions of Participation in the Social Security Act,
			 Title XVIII.
E.
Clinical
			 Manager
- Licensed physician, physical therapist, speech language
			 pathologist, occupational therapist, audiologist, social worker or registered
			 nurse.
F.
Clinical
			 Note
-A dated, written or electronic and signed notation by agency
			 personnel of a contact with a patient including a description of signs and
			 symptoms, treatment and/or medication given, the patient's response, other
			 health services provided, and any changes in physical and/or emotional
			 condition.
G.
Clinical
			 Record
-An accurate account of services provided for each patient and
			 maintained by the agency.
H.
Contractor
-An entity or individual providing services for the
			 agency who does not meet the definition of employee.
I.
Coordinating
-Bringing needed
			 services into a common action, movement or condition of the health of the
			 patient.
J.
Department
-The Arkansas Department of Health, Health Facility
			 Services.
K.
Discharge
			 Summary
-A recapitulation of all services provided by the home health
			 agency before discharge of a patient.
L.
Employee
-Any individual for
			 whom the agency is required to issue a form W-2.
M.
Health
-The condition of being
			 sound in body, mind and spirit, especially freedom from physical disease or
			 pain.
N.
Health
			 Assessment
-A determination of a patient's physical and mental status
			 performed by medical professionals.
O.
Home Health Agency
-Any
			 person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization, whether
			 public or private, proprietary, or non-profit, that provides a home health
			 service for pay or other consideration in a patient's residence.
P.
Home Health Aide
-A person
			 who provides home health aide services for a person in the home under the
			 supervision of a registered nurse.
Q.
Home Health Services
-The
			 providing or coordinating of acute, restorative, rehabilitative, maintenance,
			 preventive, or health promotion services through professional nursing or by
			 other therapeutic services such as physical therapy, speech therapy,
			 occupational therapy, medical social services, home health aide or personal
			 services in a client's residence.
R.
Licensed Practitioner
- An
			 individual permitted by law and by the Home Health Agency to prescribe care.
Maintenance
-To keep in an existing state.
S.
Parent Agency
-The Medicare
			 certified agency physically located within the state that develops and
			 maintains administrative control of branches.
T.
Patient Care Conference
-A
			 documented conference among the home health agency staff or contractors
			 providing care to a patient to evaluate patient care needs and the delivery of
			 service.
AA.
Personal
			 Care
-Medically prescribed health related assistance inactivities of
			 daily living, hygiene and grooming.
BB.
Personal Care Aide
- A
			 person who provides personal care services for a person in their
			 home.
CC.
Physician
-A
			 person who is currently licensed under the Arkansas Medical Practices
			 Act.
DD.
Place of
			 Business
-Any office of a home health agency that maintains home health
			 service patient records or directs home health services.
EE.
Plan of Care
-A written plan
			 which specifies scope, frequency and duration of services that is signed by a
			 qualified practitioner.
FF.
Preventive
-To keep from happening orexisting.
GG.
Quality of Care
-Clinically
			 competent care which, supported and directed in a planned pattern to achieve
			 maximum dignity at the required level of comfort, preventive health measures
			 and self-management.
HH.
Rehabilitative
-To restore or bring to a condition of health or
			 useful and constructive activity.
II.
Residence
-A place where a
			 person resides, including a home, nursing home, residential care facility or
			 convalescent home for the disabled or aged.
JJ.
Restorative
-Something that
			 serves to restore to consciousness, vigor or health.
KK.
Service Area
-The land area
			 for which the agency shall be licensed, which shall be consistent with their
			 Certification of Need (CON) or Permit of Approval (POA).
LL.
Skilled Care Services
-
			 Includes skilled nursing services, physical therapy, respiratory therapy
			 services, speech-language pathology services, occupational therapy, medical
			 social work services, and physician services,
MM.
Skilled Professional
- a
			 person licensed and trained to provide skilled services according to their
			 applicable licensing board.
NN.
Supervision
-Authoritative procedural guidance by a qualified
			 person, acting within his or her applicable scope of practice to a function or
			 activity.
OO.
Supervisor
- A skilled professional or one who has completed two
			 years of full time study at an accredited institution of higher education. An
			 individual who has a high school diploma or GED may substitute one (1) year of
			 full time employment in a supervisory capacity in a healthcare facility or
			 community-based agency for one (1) year at an institution of higher
			 education.
PP.
Visit
-
			 a face-to-face visit in the client's residence or by the use of information
			 technology.