Florida Administrative Code › 59 - AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION › 59A - Health Facility and Agency Licensing › Chapter 59A-8 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR HOME HEALTH AGENCIES › Section 59A-8.020 - Acceptance of Patients or Clients

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1)
				When a home health agency accepts a patient or client for service, there shall
				be a reasonable expectation that the services can be provided safely to the
				patient or client in his place of residence. This includes being able to
				communicate with the patient, or with another person designated by the patient,
				either through a staff person or interpreter that speaks the same language, or
				through technology that translates so that the services can be provided. The
				responsibility of the agency is also to assure that the patient or client
				receives services as defined in a specific plan of care, for those patients
				receiving care under a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice
				registered nurse's treatment orders, or in a written agreement, as described in
				subsection (3), below, for clients receiving care without a physician,
				physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse's orders. This
				responsibility includes assuring the patient receives all assigned
				visits.
(2) At the start of
				services a home health agency must establish a written agreement between the
				agency and the patient or client or the patient's or client's legal
				representative, including the information described in section
				400.487(1),
				F.S. This written agreement must be signed and dated by a representative of the
				home health agency and the patient or client or the patient's or client's legal
				representative. A copy of the agreement must be given to the patient or client
				and the original must be placed in the patient's or client's file.
(3) The written agreement, as specified in
				subsection (2) above, shall serve as the home health agency's service provision
				plan, pursuant to section
				400.491(2),
				F.S., for clients who receive homemaker and companion services or home health
				aide services which do not require a physician, physician assistant, or
				advanced practice registered nurse's treatment order. The written agreement for
				these clients shall be maintained for one year after termination of
				services.
(4) When the agency
				terminates services for a patient or client needing continuing home health
				care, as determined by the patient's physician, physician assistant, or
				advanced practice registered nurse, for patients receiving care under a
				physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse's
				treatment order, or as determined by the client or caregiver, for clients
				receiving care without a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice
				registered nurse's treatment order, a plan must be developed and a referral
				made by home health agency staff to another home health agency or service
				provider prior to termination. The patient or client must be notified in
				writing of the date of termination, the reason for termination, pursuant to
				section 400.491, F.S., and the plan for
				continued services by the agency or service provider to which the patient or
				client has been referred, pursuant to section
				400.497(8),
				F.S. This requirement does not apply to patients paying through personal funds
				or private insurance who default on their contract through non-payment. The
				home health agency should provide social work assistance to patients to help
				them determine their eligibility for assistance from government funded programs
				if their private funds have been depleted or will be
				depleted.
Rulemaking Authority 400.497 FS. Law Implemented 400.487
					 FS.
New 4-19-76, Formerly 10D-68.20, Amended 4-30-86, 8-10-88,
					 Formerly 10D-68.020, Amended 10-27-94, 1-17-00, 7-18-01, 9-22-05,
					 8-15-06.