16 Del. Admin. Code § 3380-5.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 3380-5.0 - Patient Care Policies

5.1 Every hospice shall develop written policies pertaining to the services they provide. Such policies shall include:

5.1.1 The goal of hospice care.

5.1.2 The scope of program services.

5.1.3 Interdisciplinary team services.

5.1.4 Bereavement services.

5.1.5 Home care services.

5.1.6 Inpatient services.

5.1.7 Palliative services.

5.1.8 A written policy denoting care of patients:

5.1.8.1 In an emergency.

5.1.8.2 During a communicable disease episode.

5.1.9 Criteria for discharge from hospice programs.

5.2 The policies should reflect the philosophy and objectives of the hospice program.

5.3 Admission to a hospice is limited to the following:

5.3.1 Patient in the terminal state of illness whose survival is anticipated to be less than six months.

5.3.2 Patients who are no longer receiving treatment for cure.

5.3.3 The patient and physician agree that palliative care is appropriate.

5.3.4 The patient or the patient's legal guardian choose hospice care.

5.3.5 A hospice program shall not admit any persons under the age of eighteen (18) years without a signed parent/guardian consent.

5.3.6 Each hospice program must have a policy and procedures regarding informed consent agreement.

5.3.7 At the time of admission to the hospice and thereafter, a patient/family must be under the care of a physician who shall be responsible for medical care.

5.3.8 Admission is limited to those patients who have a family member, or designated person who is able and willing to assume the role of primary care giver.

5.4 The patient/family is the unit of care.

5.5 The hospice program must establish written policies regarding the rights and responsibilities of patients and these policies and procedures are to be made available to patient/family or patient/guardian. The rights of patients shall be consistent with Titles 16 and 31 of the Delaware Code and the Department of Health and Social Services Regulations regarding Patient's Rights.

5.6 The program shall exhibit with the admission agreement to all patients or their sponsors a complete statement enumerating all charges for services, materials and equipment which shall, or may be, furnished to the patient during the period of participation in the program.

5.7 The hospice program shall present to the patient, in writing, the prepayment and refund policies at the time of admission, and in the case of third party payment, an exact statement of responsibility in the event of retroactive denial. The patient shall be notified in writing of any changes in third party coverage prior to the implementation of such changes.

16 Del. Admin. Code § 3380-5.0

25 DE Reg. 781( 2/1/2022) (Final)