Sec.19-13-D78. Patient's bill of rights and responsibilities

An agency shall have a written bill of rights and responsibilities governing agency services which shall be made available and explained to each patient or representative at the time of admission. Such explanation shall be documented in the patient's clinical record. The bill of rights shall include but not be limited to:

(a) A description of available services, unit charges and billing mechanisms. Any changes in such must be given to the patient orally and in writing as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30) working days from the date the agency becomes aware of a change;

(b) Policy on uncompensated care;

(c) Criteria for admission to service and discharge from service;

(d) Information regarding the right to participate in the planning of the care to be furnished, the disciplines that will furnish care, the frequency of visits proposed and any changes in the care to be furnished, the person supervising the patients' care and the manner in which that person may be contacted;

(e) Patient responsibility for participation in the development and implementation of the home health care plan;

(f) Right of the patient or designated representative to be fully informed of patients' health condition, unless contraindicated by a physician in the clinical record;

(g) Right of the patient to have his or her property treated with respect;

(h) Explanation of confidential treatment of all patient information retained in the agency and the requirement for written consent for release of information to persons not otherwise authorized under law to receive it;

(i) Policy regarding patient access to the clinical record;

(j) Explanation of grievance procedure and right to file grievance without discrimination or reprisal from agency regarding treatment or care to be provided or regarding the lack of respect for property by anyone providing agency services;

(k) Procedure for registering complaints with the commissioner and information regarding the availability of the medicare toll-free hotline, including telephone number, hours of operation for receiving complaints or questions about local home health agencies;

(l) Agency's responsibility to investigate complaints made by a patient, patient's family or guardian regarding treatment or care provided or that fails to be provided and lack of respect for the patient's property by anyone providing agency services. Agency complaint log shall include date, nature and resolution of the complaint.

(Effective December 28, 1992)