Rule 111-8-37-.19 - Other ServicesHospices must make supportive services available to both the patient and the patient's family unit, including, but not limited to, bereavement services provided both prior to and after the patient's death, as well as spiritual counseling and any other counseling services identified in the interdisciplinary plan of care for the patient and the patient's family unit.
(a)Bereavement Services. Hospices must have an organized program for the provision of bereavement services under the supervision of a licensed professional counselor or licensed social worker or other professional determined, in compliance with applicable laws, to be qualified by training and education to provide the required supportive services. Bereavement services must be a part of the interdisciplinary plan of care and shall address the needs of the patient and the patient's family unit, the services to be provided, and the frequency of services. Bereavement services, including educational and spiritual materials and individual and group support services, must be available to the terminally ill patient's family unit for a period of at least one year following the terminally ill patient's death. Hospices must maintain documentation of all bereavement services.(b)Spiritual Counseling. Hospices must make available spiritual counseling and must notify patients and patients' family units as to the availability of clergy. In the delivery of spiritual counseling services, hospices must not impose any value or belief system on the patient or the patient's family unit.(c)Other Counseling. Additional counseling for the patient or the patient's family unit may be provided by other qualified members of the hospice care team as well as by other qualified professionals in accordance with state practice acts. Such counseling includes, but is not limited to, access to a licensed clinical social worker or professional counselor for the provision of counseling to the patient or the patient's family unit or primary caregiver on a short-term basis to resolve assessed clear or direct impediments to the treatment of the patient's medical condition.(d)Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology Services. Physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, and speech language pathology services must be available to the patient and, when provided, offered by qualified personnel, in accordance with state practice acts, in a manner consistent with accepted standards of practice.(e)Dietary and Nutritional Services. Dietary and nutritional services, as required, must be available to all patients in all components of hospice care and provided or supervised by a licensed dietitian. Hospices must develop, document, and implement effective written policies and procedures for dietary and nutritional services.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-37-.19
O.C.G.A. §§ 31-7-170et seq.
Original Rule entitled "Other Services" adopted. F. May 26, 2015; eff. June 15, 2015.