Section 471-36-002 - DEFINITIONS The following definitions apply:
002.01ADVANCED DIRECTIVE. A legal document, including, but not limited to, a living will, signed by a competent person, to provide guidance for medical and health-care decisions in the event the client becomes incapable to make such decisions.002.02ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY. A facility licensed as an assisted living facility by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health.002.03ATTENDING PHYSICIAN. A doctor of medicine or osteopathy who is legally authorized to practice medicine or surgery by the state in which they perform that function, and is identified by the client, at the time they elect to receive hospice care, as having the most significant role in the determination and delivery of the client's medical care.002.04BENEFIT PERIOD. The dates that the certification or recertification request covers.002.05BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING. Emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual support and services provided before and after the death of the client to assist with issues related to grief, loss, and adjustment.002.06CAREGIVER. A friend, family member, or legal guardian who provides ongoing care for a client who is unable to care for themself.002.07CENTER FOR THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (CDD). A facility, including a group home, where shelter, food, care, advice, counseling, diagnosis, treatment, or related services are provided for a period of more than twenty-four consecutive hours to four or more persons residing at such facility who have developmental disabilities.002.08CLIENT. A Medicaid client who is: (A) Diagnosed as terminally ill; and(B) Admitted into a hospice service, after giving informed consent.002.09CLIENT REPRESENATIVE. A person who is, because of the client's mental or physical incapacity, authorized in accordance with state law to execute decisions about hospice services, or terminate medical care, on behalf of the terminally ill client.002.10DIETARY COUNSELING. Education and interventions provided to the client and family regarding appropriate nutritional intake as the client's condition progresses. Dietary counseling is provided by qualified individuals, which may include a registered nurse (RN), dietitian, or nutritionist, when identified in the client's plan of care.002.11ELECTION. A decision by the client, or client's representative, to receive hospice care.002.12HOMEMAKER. A person employed by, or a volunteer of, a hospice provider to provide domestic services including, but not limited to, meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, errands, and chore services.002.13HOSPICE OR HOSPICE PROVIDER. A public agency, private organization, or subdivision of a public agency or private organization that is primarily engaged in providing hospice care as defined in this section.002.14HOSPICE AIDE. A person who is employed by a hospice to provide personal care, assistance with activities of daily living, and basic therapeutic care to the clients of the hospice.002.15HOSPICE CARE. A comprehensive set of services described in this chapter, identified and coordinated by a hospice interdisciplinary group (IDG) to provide for the physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and emotional needs of a terminally ill client and family members, as delineated in a specific client plan of care.002.16HOSPICE INPATIENT FACILITY. A facility in which the hospice service provides inpatient care directly for respite and general inpatient care.002.17HOSPICE INTERDISCIPLINARY GROUP (IDG). The hospice medical director, nurse practitioner, licensed professional registered nurse (RN), certified social worker, pastoral or other counselor; and, as determined by the interdisciplinary plan of care, providers of special services such as counseling services, pharmacy services, hospice aides, trained volunteers, dietary services, and any other appropriate health services, to meet the physical, medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and emotional needs of clients and families, which are experienced during the final stages of illness, dying, and bereavement.002.18HOSPICE VOLUNTEER. An individual specifically trained and supervised to provide support and supportive services to the client and client's family under the supervision of a designated hospice employee. This does not apply to any volunteers working on behalf of a hospice provider licensed under the Health Care Facility Licensure Act who, as part of their volunteer duties, provide care. Volunteers are unpaid persons who supplement other covered services. Volunteer services include, but are not limited to, caregiver relief, short term client companionship or running errands.002.19INITIAL ASSESSMENT. An evaluation of the client's physical, psychosocial, and emotional status related to the terminal illness and related conditions to determine the client's immediate care and support needs.002.20INSTITUTION FOR MENTAL DISEASES (IMD). A hospital, nursing facility (NF), or other institution of more than 16 beds that is primarily engaged in providing diagnosis, treatment, or care of persons with mental diseases, including medical attention, nursing care, and related services. For the purposes of this chapter, whether an institution is an institution for mental diseases is determined by its overall character as that of a facility established and maintained primarily for the care and treatment of individuals with mental diseases, whether or not it is licensed as such.002.21INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY FOR INVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (ICF/DD). A facility, licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health and certified to participate in Medicaid, where shelter, food, and training or habilitation services, advice, counseling, diagnosis, treatment, care, nursing care, or related services are provided for a period of more than 24 consecutive hours to four or more persons residing at such facility who have intellectual disability or related conditions, including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disabilities.002.22LICENSED NURSE. A person licensed as a registered nurse (RN) or as a practical nurse under the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-2201 to 38-2238002.23LICENSED PROFESSIONAL. A person licensed to provide patient care services by the state in which services are delivered.002.24MEDICAID REPRESENTATIVE. The client's services coordinator or case manager.002.25MEDICAL DIRECTOR. A hospice provider employee, or contracted person, who is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who is responsible for the overall coordination of medical care in the hospice.002.26MEDICATION. Any prescription or non-prescription drug or biological intended for treatment or prevention of disease or to affect body functions in humans.002.27NURSE PRACTITIONER. A registered nurse (RN) who performs such services as legally authorized to perform under the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-2201 to 38-2238.002.28NURSING FACILITY (NF). A facility, or a distinct part of a facility, licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health and certified for participation in the Medicaid program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, where medical care, rehabilitation, or related services and associated treatment are provided for a period of more than 24 consecutive hours to persons residing at such facility who are ill, injured, or disabled.002.29ON-CALL SERVICES. Nursing services, physician services, and drugs and biologicals must be made routinely available on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week. Other covered services must be available on a 24-hour basis when reasonable and necessary to meet the needs of the client and family.002.30PALLIATIVE CARE. As defined in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-424.04.002.31PHYSICIAN. Any person licensed to practice medicine as provided in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-2001 to 38-2063.002.32PHYSICIAN DESIGNEE. A doctor of medicine or osteopathy designated by the hospice provider who assumes the same responsibilities and obligations as the medical director when the medical director is not available.002.33RESPITE CARE. Short-term inpatient care provided to the individual only when necessary to relieve the family members or other persons caring for the individual.002.34REVOCATION. The choice by the client, or client's representative, to discontinue hospice services. Hospice services may be revoked in writing at any time.002.35SOCIAL WORKER, CERTIFIED. A person who has received a baccalaureate or master's degree in social work from an approved educational program, and holds a current certified social worker certificate issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.002.36TERMINALLY ILL OR TERMINAL ILLNESS. The client is diagnosed with a medical prognosis that his or her life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.002.37TREATMENT. A therapy, modality, product, device, or other intervention used to maintain well-being or to diagnose, assess, alleviate, or prevent a disability, injury, illness, disease, or similar condition.471 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 36, § 002
Amended effective 6/2/2024