Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 272 CMR - CERTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, BOARD OF › Title 272 CMR 8.00 - PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR CERTIFIED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS › Section 8.02 - Standards of Conduct for Certified Community Health Workers

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The Standards of Conduct for Certified Community Health Workers
				includes:
(1)
Use of
			 Title
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall only identify
			 himself or herself as a Certified Community Health Worker while in the
			 possession of a current certificate.
(2)
Misrepresentation of
			 Credentials
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall not
			 misrepresent his or her credentials related to the practice of community health
			 work including, but not limited to, those indicating education, type of
			 community health worker certification, professional experience, or any other
			 credential related to his or her work as a community health worker.
(3)
Practice under a False or
			 Different Name
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall engage
			 in the practice of community health work only under the name in which such
			 certification has been issued.
(4)
Acts within Scope of Practice
. A Certified Community
			 Health Worker shall only perform acts within the scope of community health
			 worker practice as defined in M.G.L. c. 112, § 259 and 272 CMR 3.02:
Scope of Practice of Certified Community Health
			 Workers.
(5)
Competency
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall
			 only assume those duties and responsibilities within his or her scope of
			 practice and for which he or she has acquired and maintained necessary
			 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
(6)
Responsibility and
			 Accountability
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall be
			 responsible and accountable for his or her judgments, actions, and competency
			 in the course of performing his or her duties as a Certified Community Health
			 Worker.
(7)
Documentation
. A Certified Community Health Worker
			 shall make complete, accurate, and legible entries in all records required by
			 federal, state and local laws and regulations.
(8)
Falsification of
			 Information
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall not
			 knowingly falsify, or attempt to falsify, any documentation or information
			 related to any aspect of certification as a community health worker, the
			 practice of community health work, or the delivery of community health worker
			 services.
(9)
Alteration or Destruction of Records
. A Certified
			 Community Health Worker shall not inappropriately destroy or alter any record
			 related to his or her work as a Certified Community Health Worker.
(10)
Discrimination
.
			 A Certified Community Health Worker shall not withhold or deny care or services
			 based on age, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender
			 identity, race, color, religious creed, national origin, diagnosis, or mental
			 or physical disability.
(11)
Client Abuse, Neglect, Mistreatment, or Other Harm
. A
			 Certified Community Health Worker shall not abuse, neglect, mistreat, or
			 otherwise harm a client.
(12)
Infection Control
. A Certified Community Health Worker
			 shall not place a client, himself or herself, or others at undue risk for the
			 transmission of infectious diseases.
(13)
Client Dignity and
			 Privacy
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall safeguard a
			 client's dignity and right to privacy.
(14)
Client Confidential
			 Information
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall safeguard
			 client information from any person or entity, or both, not entitled to such
			 information. A Certified Community Health Worker shall share appropriate
			 information only as required by law or authorized by the client for the
			 well-being or protection of the client.
(15)
Sexual Contact
.
			 A Certified Community Health Worker shall not have sexual contact with any
			 client with whom he or she has a current community health worker/client
			 relationship or with any former client who may be vulnerable by virtue of
			 disability, age, illness, or cognitive ability.
(16)
Professional
			 Boundaries
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall establish
			 and observe professional boundaries with respect to any client with whom he or
			 she has a current community health worker/client relationship. A Certified
			 Community Health Worker shall continue to observe professional boundaries with
			 his or her former clients who may be vulnerable by virtue of disability, age,
			 illness, or cognitive ability.
(17)
Exercise of Undue Influence
. A Certified Community
			 Health Worker shall not exercise undue influence on a client, including the
			 promotion or sale of services, goods, appliances or drugs, in such a manner as
			 to exploit the client for financial gain of the Certified Community Health
			 Worker or third party.
(18)
Borrowing from Clients
. A Certified Community Health
			 Worker shall not borrow money, materials, or other property from any
			 client.
(19)
Undue
			 Benefit or Gain
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall
			 interact with clients without undue benefit or gain to the Certified Community
			 Health Worker or third party.
(20)
Relationship Affecting Professional Judgment
. A
			 Certified Community Health Worker shall not initiate or maintain a community
			 health worker/client relationship that is likely to adversely affect the
			 community health worker's professional judgment.
(21)
Advertising
. A
			 Certified Community Health Worker shall not engage in false, deceptive, or
			 misleading advertising related to community health work.
(22)
Fraudulent
			 Practices
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall not engage in
			 any fraudulent practice including, but not limited to, billing for services not
			 rendered or submitting false claims for reimbursement.
(23)
Impersonation
.
			 A Certified Community Health Worker shall not impersonate another community
			 health worker or other health care provider, or knowingly allow or enable
			 another person to impersonate him or her.
(24)
Aiding Unlawful
			 Activity
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall not aid any
			 person in performing any act prohibited by law or regulation.
(25)
Circumvention of
			 Law
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall not receive from,
			 or offer, give, or promise anything of value or benefit to, any official to
			 circumvent any federal, state and local laws and regulations.
(26)
Practice While
			 Impaired
. A Certified Community Health Worker shall not act as a
			 community health worker while impaired.
(27)
Unlawful Acquisition and
			 Possession of Controlled Substances
. A Certified Community Health
			 Worker shall not unlawfully obtain or possess controlled substances.
(28)
Duty to Report to the
			 Board
. A Certified Community Health Worker who directly observes
			 another community health worker or health care professional engaged in any of
			 the following shall report that individual to the Board:
(a) abuse of a client;
(b) practice of community health work while
			 impaired by substance use; and
(c)
			 diversion of controlled substances.