LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies)

What this rule requires your agency to do

• 1The agency shall have regular posted business hours, be fully operational at least eight hours a day, five days a week between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., and make patient care services available as needed 24 hours a day, seven days a week (§I-9115.A).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))
• 2The HHA shall not harass, bribe, coerce, or intimidate any patient to change or select an agency, allow employees to mistreat patients, or advertise untruthfully about services, credentials, or accreditation (§I-9115.B.3.a-c).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))
• 3The HHA shall maintain an emergency preparedness plan conforming to the Louisiana Model Home Health Emergency Preparedness Plan (§I-9115.B.1.l).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))
• 4The HHA shall post its hours of operation and emergency contact procedures prominently and have an RN immediately available by telecommunications at all times (§I-9115.B.1.b-c).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))
• 5The HHA shall limit its geographic service area to a 50-mile radius of the parent agency and shall notify the department of any change of address, services added or ceased, and change of key employees in accordance with §9109 (§I-9115.B.1.m, r).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))
• 6The HHA shall act as patient advocate, protect patients from unsafe clinical practices, ensure staff competency prior to providing treatments, and maintain general and professional liability and workers' compensation insurance per §9105 (§I-9115.B.1.n-p, s).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))
• 7The HHA shall accept medical orders only from an authorized healthcare provider or authorized representative, respond to patient care needs and orders in a timely manner, and have adequate staff per accepted standards of practice (§I-9115.B.1.d, j, g).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))
• 8The HHA shall have agency-specific policies and procedures (staff responsibilities/qualifications, agency operations, patient care standards, complaint resolution, compliance) that are written, current, and annually reviewed (§I-9115.B.1.h-i).(LAC 48:I.9115 — Agency Operations (Minimum Standards for Home Health Agencies))