Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 111 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
Chapter 111-8 - HEALTHCARE FACILITY REGULATION
Subject 111-8-37 - RULE AND REGULATIONS FOR HOSPICES
Rule 111-8-37-.16 - Home Care

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 111-8-37-.16

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

(1) The hospice must provide home care services to patients primarily in the patients' home. At least 51 percent of the total of all hospice care days, delivered by the hospice in the fiscal year to terminally ill patients must be delivered in the homes of the terminally ill patients.

(2) During home care visits, the hospice employee must provide continuing education for the patient and the patient's primary caregiver regarding the progression of the patient's illness and the patient's care needs.

(3) If, during the home care visit, there are observed or communicated significant changes in the patient's condition or needs, or if the hospice employee or volunteer observes that the patient's primary caregiver cannot provide the continuing support and care the patient requires, such findings must be communicated to the patient's hospice care team in a sufficiently timely manner to ensure that the patient's care and safety needs are addressed.

(4) When hospice services are provided to a patient who is a resident of a licensed nursing home, licensed intermediate care home, licensed personal care home or licensed assisted living community, or another licensed hospice operating an inpatient unit, there must be written communication evidencing an understanding between the hospice and the licensed facility that makes clear that the hospice takes full responsibility for professional management of the patient's hospice care and that the licensed nursing home, licensed intermediate care home, licensed personal care home or licensed assisted living community takes responsibility for the other services the patient needs or receives that the licensed facility is authorized to provide.

(a) The written communication must clearly specify the patient-care activities and responsibilities that will be performed by the hospice employees and volunteers and those patient care tasks that will be performed by employees of the facility where the hospice patient resides. Hospice employees and volunteers must provide those services for which they are assigned responsibility in the hospice's plan of care for the patient.

(b) The written communication must specify an individual from the hospice and an individual from the facility where the patient resides who shall be responsible for communication between services providers regarding each patient's treatment and condition and for addressing any care issues. Such communication must be ongoing throughout the period of hospice service provision and must be documented in the patient's hospice medical record.

(c) The hospice must provide a copy of any self-determination documentation to the licensed nursing home, licensed intermediate care home, licensed personal care home or licensed assisted living community where the patient resides and must communicate with the facility as to the procedure for the appropriate implementation of any advance directive or physician's order for life sustaining treatment.

(5) If the hospice does not offer inpatient services directly, the hospice must have a contractual agreement with a licensed hospital, a licensed skilled nursing facility, or a licensed inpatient hospice for the provision of short-term, acute inpatient care and respite care for hospice patients.

(6) The hospice must arrange for transport services when necessary to transport hospice patients to and from inpatient hospice care.

O.C.G.A. §§ 31-7-170et seq.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Georgia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.