{"pack":"la-hca","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/","name":"Louisiana Home Care Policy and Procedure Manual","state":"Louisiana","service":"Home care","license":"Louisiana HCBS provider license, personal care attendant module","count":50,"forms":68,"categories":[{"name":"Client rights","count":4},{"name":"Service delivery","count":13},{"name":"Clinical tasks","count":1},{"name":"Safeguarding","count":2},{"name":"Infection control","count":2},{"name":"Emergency preparedness","count":1},{"name":"Records","count":2},{"name":"Privacy","count":3},{"name":"Human resources","count":8},{"name":"Governance","count":6},{"name":"Quality","count":2},{"name":"Business","count":3},{"name":"Ethics","count":3}],"policies":[{"ref":"LA-HC-CMP-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/client-grievances-and-complaints/","title":"Client Grievances and Complaints","category":"Client rights","citation":"LAC 48:I.5051","summary":"Sets out the Agency’s written grievance procedure under LAC 48:I.5051 and the LT-PCS internal complaint policy: how clients learn about it, how any complaint is received and logged by the complaint coordinator, investigated by the Administrator or designee, and answered with a written report or decision within five business days, and where the client can go next, with no retaliation.","sample":true},{"ref":"LA-HC-CR-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/client-rights-and-independent-advocates/","title":"Client Rights and Independent Advocates","category":"Client rights","citation":"LAC 48:I.5049","summary":"Sets out the 26 rights Louisiana gives every client of a licensed HCBS provider (LAC 48:I.5049.A), how the Agency informs the client, the family and any legal guardian of those rights verbally and in writing in a language they understand, how staff protect each right in daily care, and how the Agency helps a client obtain an independent advocate when the client asks, is in conflict with the Agency, or the client's rights or wishes may be in jeopardy.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-CR-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/consent-legal-representatives-minors-and-advance-directives/","title":"Consent, Legal Representatives, Minors, and Advance Directives","category":"Client rights","citation":"LAC 48:I.5033.C","summary":"Explains who gives consent for the Agency's services and how: consents obtained from the client or legal representative before admission, the reasons recorded when the client or representative is not involved, the documents that show a representative's authority (interdiction, tutorship, continuing tutorship, power of attorney), services to minors, written authorization for emergency care, informed written consent before any research, and how the Agency handles advance directives and LaPOST forms, including the federal advance directive duties of Medicaid personal care providers.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-CR-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/client-funds-property-and-personal-accounts/","title":"Client Funds, Property, and Personal Accounts","category":"Client rights","citation":"LAC 48:I.5059","summary":"Protects each client's right to control his or her own money and property. Direct care workers do not hold or manage client money; errands paid for with the client's money are receipted. If the Agency agrees to manage a client's funds or act as representative payee, it follows every requirement of LAC 48:I.5059: written authorization, a written statement of rights and charges, a separate account, signed receipts, quarterly statements, refunds within five business days of notification of discharge, and the rules on burial policies, life insurance and funds after death.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-ADM-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/admission-policies-intake-service-agreement-and-refusal-of-admission/","title":"Admission Policies, Intake, Service Agreement, and Refusal of Admission","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5033","summary":"Sets the Agency's written admission policies and criteria (intake, admission criteria, criteria for minors, legal status, ages served, services and discharge criteria), how a referral is handled, the decision that the Agency has the capacity to safely provide the services, the written service agreement signed before admission, the documents every client receives at admission, the service area limits, the Medicaid LT-PCS and waiver rules on accepting and refusing beneficiaries, and the written statement of the reason when admission is refused.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-ADM-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/comprehensive-assessment-and-reassessment/","title":"Comprehensive Assessment and Reassessment","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5039.B","summary":"Sets how the Agency assesses each client's needs before any service and at least annually, and more often as needs change: who assesses, the risk areas LAC 48:I.5039.B.3 requires (life safety, living environment, health conditions, functional capacity and financial health), the capacity decision, when a Medicaid or program office assessment can substitute, the registered nurse assessment needed if direct service workers administer medication, and how the findings feed the individual service plan.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-DC-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/voluntary-transfer-and-discharge/","title":"Voluntary Transfer and Discharge","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5035","summary":"Protects each client's right to choose a provider, to be discharged, to transfer to another provider and to discontinue all services, and sets how the Agency plans a voluntary transfer or discharge: the planning conference, a copy of the current individual service plan, the written discharge summary within five working days of the client's notice, the LT-PCS notice to the LTC Access contractor, refunds and burial policies, and closing the record, without ever coercing the client to stay.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-DC-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/involuntary-transfer-discharge-and-appeal-rights/","title":"Involuntary Transfer, Discharge, and Appeal Rights","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5037","summary":"Sets the only grounds on which the Agency may transfer or discharge a client against the client's wishes (LAC 48:I.5037.A), the written notice at least 30 calendar days before by certified mail, return receipt requested (or as soon as practicable when health or safety is endangered, and the 15-day rule for nonpayment), what the notice must contain, the client's appeal rights to the Division of Administrative Law and right to remain pending appeal, the Agency's transfer and discharge responsibilities, and how the LT-PCS discontinuation rules fit with the licensing rule.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SAF-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/home-safety-falls-and-scald-prevention-and-staff-safety/","title":"Home Safety, Falls and Scald Prevention, and Staff Safety","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5039.B.3","summary":"Sets how the Agency checks each client's home for risks before services start and at every quarterly visit (access to emergency help, ability to evacuate, fall hazards, hot water and other hazards), what workers do to prevent falls, scalds and fires, what happens after a fall, and how workers stay safe, including leaving a home where they are in danger and reporting threats and unsafe conditions.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SAF-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/medical-emergencies-changes-in-condition-and-death-in-the-home/","title":"Medical Emergencies, Changes in Condition, and Death in the Home","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5055.H.1.c","summary":"Tells workers exactly what to do in a medical emergency (call 911 first, support the client until help arrives, give responders the client's information and any advance directive or LaPOST form, then call the supervisor), how to respond to urgent changes in condition, a client who does not answer the door, and a death in the home, and how each event is reported, including OAAS critical incidents.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SP-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/individual-service-plan/","title":"Individual Service Plan","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5041","summary":"Sets how the Agency develops a person-centered individual service plan (ISP) for every client upon admission and before services begin, based on the comprehensive assessment, with the client taking part; what the ISP must contain under LAC 48:I.5041.F; how a Medicaid plan of care (LT-PCS or waiver) is used; how every worker is informed of and trained on the plan; and how the plan is reviewed no less than annually and whenever the client's needs change.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SP-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/scheduling-back-up-staffing-and-missed-visits/","title":"Scheduling, Back-Up Staffing, and Missed Visits","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5055.E.3","summary":"Sets how the Agency schedules direct care workers to meet each client's individual service plan, gives every client a written individualized back-up staffing plan and agreement before services begin, keeps at least one trained and qualified back-up worker for each client, and handles worker call-outs, late arrivals and missed visits so that no client is left without needed care.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SP-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/coordination-of-services-changes-in-condition-and-service-requests/","title":"Coordination of Services, Changes in Condition, and Service Requests","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5041.J","summary":"Sets how the Agency coordinates each client's care with other providers and caregivers, how direct care workers report a change in a client's condition to a supervisor immediately and a client's request for services or a change in services within the time the rule sets, how supervisors make sure a significant change is reported so the client gets medical attention, and how hospital stays, interruptions of LT-PCS, status change assessments and out-of-state travel are handled.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SUP-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/direct-care-staff-supervisor-supervisory-visits-and-quarterly-home/","title":"Direct Care Staff Supervisor, Supervisory Visits, and Quarterly Home Visits","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5055.M","summary":"Sets how the Agency designates direct care staff supervisors, how each supervisor makes an unannounced in-person supervisory visit of every direct care worker within 60 days of hire and at least annually (and more often when needed), what each visit records, and how the Agency visits every client's home each quarter to check that the service plan is adequate, still needed and up to date.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SVC-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/scope-of-services-personal-care-attendant-and-in-home-respite-services/","title":"Scope of Services: Personal Care Attendant and In-Home Respite Services","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5079","summary":"Defines the personal care attendant (PCA) and in-home respite services the Agency provides under its Louisiana HCBS provider license, what direct care workers may and may not do, where services are given, and the extra limits that apply to clients who receive Medicaid LT-PCS or waiver services. It also sets how the Agency tells clients, the public and the Health Standards Section what it offers.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SVC-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/transportation-of-clients-and-driver-safety/","title":"Transportation of Clients and Driver Safety","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5045","summary":"Sets who may drive clients, what the Agency checks before and while a worker transports clients (licensing, a safe driving course within 90 days of hire and every three years, a driver's license status inquiry report at hire and every year, vehicle licensing, inspection, insurance and seatbelts), how the Agency evaluates the driving record, and how wheelchair users are transported safely.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SVC-04","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/behavior-support-and-prohibited-practices/","title":"Behavior Support and Prohibited Practices","category":"Service delivery","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.D","summary":"Sets how workers support clients whose behavior is challenging: positive, non-intrusive approaches that look for the meaning of the behavior, and a list of practices that are never used (corporal punishment, restraint of any kind, psychological and verbal abuse, seclusion, forced exercise, cruelty or punishment, and denying food, drink, visits or the restroom). It also covers behavioral emergencies, which are documented in an incident report, and plans written by outside professionals.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-SVC-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/medication-reminders-and-direct-service-worker-medication/","title":"Medication Reminders and Direct Service Worker Medication Administration","category":"Clinical tasks","citation":"LAC 48:I.9243","summary":"Sets the two levels of medication help the Agency gives. Every direct care worker may give medication reminders, within strict limits. Only if the Agency chooses to offer it, a direct service worker who has completed 16 hours of medication administration training, person-specific training and written competency certification by a registered nurse may administer oral and topical medications and perform other noncomplex tasks for a client in stable condition, under LAC 48:I Chapter 92, Subchapter D.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-ANE-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/recognizing-and-reporting-abuse-neglect-exploitation-and-extortion-of/","title":"Recognizing and Reporting Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Extortion of Adults","category":"Safeguarding","citation":"La. R.S. 40:2009.20","summary":"Tells every staff member how to recognize abuse, neglect, exploitation, extortion and misappropriation of an adult client, how to protect the client, and how to report: to a supervisor on the date of discovery, and personally within 24 hours to Adult Protective Services, Elderly Protective Services, LDH or law enforcement, because telling a supervisor alone does not meet the law. It also covers removing accused staff, investigation and the Direct Service Worker Registry.","sample":true},{"ref":"LA-HC-ANE-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/reporting-suspected-child-abuse-or-neglect/","title":"Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect","category":"Safeguarding","citation":"La. Ch.C. art. 610","summary":"Tells staff what to do when they suspect a child is abused or neglected, whether the child is a client or lives in or visits a client’s home: report immediately to the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline or law enforcement as Children’s Code Article 610 directs, give the details the law lists, and tell a supervisor, with no retaliation for reporting.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-IC-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/universal-precautions-infection-control-and-employee-health/","title":"Universal Precautions, Infection Control, and Employee Health","category":"Infection control","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.B.11","summary":"Sets the infection prevention practices every worker uses in clients' homes (universal precautions, hand hygiene, gloves and other protective equipment, safe personal care, laundry, kitchen hygiene and cleaning of equipment), the Agency's employee health program (health screening, tuberculosis screening, vaccinations and working while ill), how workers report signs of illness in clients, and how the Agency works with the Office of Public Health on reportable diseases.","sample":true},{"ref":"LA-HC-IC-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/bloodborne-pathogens-exposure-control-plan/","title":"Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan","category":"Infection control","citation":"29 CFR §1910.1030","summary":"The Agency's written Exposure Control Plan for bloodborne pathogens: which jobs have occupational exposure, the work practices and protective equipment that prevent exposure in clients' homes, free hepatitis B vaccination within 10 working days of assignment (or a signed declination), what to do after a needlestick or splash, the confidential medical evaluation that follows, training at assignment and every year, and the records the Agency keeps.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-EP-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/emergency-preparedness-continuity-of-operations-and-client-emergency/","title":"Emergency Preparedness, Continuity of Operations, and Client Emergency Plans","category":"Emergency preparedness","citation":"LAC 48:I.5063","summary":"Sets out the Agency’s all-hazards emergency preparedness and continuity of operations plan under LAC 48:I.5063: a plan approved by the governing body and updated annually in coordination with the parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, an individual emergency plan for every client reviewed at least annually, monitoring of warnings and evacuation orders, how services continue and clients are evacuated, notice to HSS no later than the next business day after an interruption in services, and staff training and drills.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-REC-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/client-records-content-security-retention-and-access/","title":"Client Records: Content, Security, Retention, and Access","category":"Records","citation":"LAC 48:I.5057","summary":"Sets out what the Agency keeps in each client record under LAC 48:I.5057, what stays in the client’s home, how entries are made and corrected, where records are stored and protected, who may see or receive them, and how long they are kept: at least six years, and for LT-PCS six years from the date of the last payment period.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-REC-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/daily-documentation-progress-notes-and-lt-pcs-service-logs/","title":"Daily Documentation, Progress Notes, and LT-PCS Service Logs","category":"Records","citation":"LAC 48:I.5057.A.10","summary":"Tells direct care workers what to write after every visit and when: the progress note items LAC 48:I.5057.A.10 requires for every client, the OAAS LT-PCS service log rules (completed daily as tasks are done, signed at the end of the week, with start and stop times from EVV), how to record changes, refusals and unused hours, and how supervisors review documentation before billing.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-PRV-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/confidentiality-and-hipaa-privacy/","title":"Confidentiality and HIPAA Privacy","category":"Privacy","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.B.1","summary":"Sets out how every member of the Agency’s workforce keeps client information confidential, signs a confidentiality agreement, uses and shares only the minimum necessary, gives clients the Notice of Privacy Practices, and honors their HIPAA rights to access, amend, restrict and receive an accounting, under LAC 48:I.5029.B.1, the LT-PCS confidentiality rules and the HIPAA Privacy Rule.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-PRV-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/hipaa-security-devices-and-system-access/","title":"HIPAA Security, Devices, and System Access","category":"Privacy","citation":"45 CFR Part 164, Subpart C","summary":"Sets out the HIPAA Security Rule safeguards the Agency uses for electronic client information: an annual risk analysis, a security official, role-based access with unique logins, no shared passwords (also an LDH EVV rule), rules for phones and tablets, encryption, backups, ending access when staff leave, security incident reporting and secure disposal.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-PRV-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/breach-notification/","title":"Breach Notification","category":"Privacy","citation":"45 CFR §164.404","summary":"Sets out what the Agency does when client or staff information may have been lost, stolen or wrongly shared: immediate reporting and containment, the HIPAA four-factor risk assessment, notice to individuals, the media and HHS within the federal time limits, and notice to Louisiana residents and the Attorney General under R.S. 51:3074 and LAC 16:III.701.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-HR-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/staffing-staff-qualifications-job-descriptions-and-volunteers/","title":"Staffing, Staff Qualifications, Job Descriptions, and Volunteers","category":"Human resources","citation":"LAC 48:I.5055","summary":"Sets how the Agency recruits and staffs enough qualified people to meet each client's service plan, the minimum qualifications for direct care staff and licensed professionals in Louisiana, written job descriptions for every position, and the written plan required if the Agency uses volunteers or student interns.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-HR-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/criminal-history-and-security-checks/","title":"Criminal History and Security Checks","category":"Human resources","citation":"La. R.S. 40:1203.2","summary":"Sets how the Agency obtains a criminal history and security check from the Louisiana State Police or an authorized agency before offering employment, when a person may start temporary or conditional employment pending results, which convictions bar employment under R.S. 40:1203.3 as amended by Act 802 of 2026, and how the final disposition of every charge is documented.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-HR-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/direct-service-worker-registry-exclusion-and-employment-eligibility/","title":"Direct Service Worker Registry, Exclusion, and Employment Eligibility Checks","category":"Human resources","citation":"LAC 48:I.9202.C","summary":"Sets how the Agency checks the Louisiana Direct Service Worker Registry (on the Louisiana State Adverse Actions List) and the federal OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities before hire and every month, what happens when a person is listed, how professional licenses are verified each year, and how employment eligibility is verified on Form I-9.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-HR-04","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/orientation-performance-evaluation-discipline-and-employee-grievances/","title":"Orientation, Performance Evaluation, Discipline, and Employee Grievances","category":"Human resources","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.C","summary":"Sets the orientation every new employee completes, the annual performance evaluation of every staff member (required by rule for direct care staff), the Agency's approach to discipline, and the written employee grievance procedure Louisiana requires, with protection from retaliation.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-HR-05","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/personnel-records/","title":"Personnel Records","category":"Human resources","citation":"LAC 48:I.5031.A.2","summary":"Lists what the Agency keeps in each personnel file to prove that every worker was qualified, checked, trained, supervised and evaluated as Louisiana requires, where personnel records are kept, who may see them, and how long they are kept.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-HR-06","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/contracted-services-and-contract-personnel/","title":"Contracted Services and Contract Personnel","category":"Human resources","citation":"LAC 48:I.5043","summary":"Sets the rules for any service the Agency provides to clients through a contract with another company or an individual: the eight items every written contract must contain under Louisiana rules, the Agency's continuing responsibility for the client's care, annual contract review, coordination, staffing business certification, and compliance with labor and privacy law.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-TRN-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/direct-care-staff-training-before-service-first-aid-and-competency/","title":"Direct Care Staff Training Before Service, First Aid, and Competency Evaluation","category":"Human resources","citation":"LAC 48:I.5055.H","summary":"Sets the training every direct care worker completes before the first visit: at least 16 hours on the 14 topics Louisiana lists, followed by a written or oral competency evaluation, and a basic first aid course within 45 days of hire. It also covers qualifications confirmed before training, training transferred from another HCBS provider, and training on each client's plan before serving that client.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-TRN-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/annual-continuing-education-for-direct-care-staff/","title":"Annual Continuing Education for Direct Care Staff","category":"Human resources","citation":"LAC 48:I.5055.J","summary":"Sets the eight hours of continuing education every direct care worker completes each year after the first year, what counts and what does not (orientation and normal supervision never count), how each worker's hours are chosen from the special needs of clients and the worker's performance review, and the other recurring training the Agency schedules alongside it.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-GOV-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/governing-body-written-policies-and-administrative-file/","title":"Governing Body, Written Policies, and Administrative File","category":"Governance","citation":"LAC 48:I.5027","summary":"Identifies the governing body of the Agency and what Louisiana requires of it, sets the procedure by which every written policy is adopted, reviewed and withdrawn, lists each written policy the HCBS licensing rules and the Medicaid program require and where it is found, and sets out the administrative file the Agency keeps for surveyors.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-GOV-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/administrator-qualifications-responsibilities-and-designee/","title":"Administrator Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Designee","category":"Governance","citation":"LAC 48:I.5055.B","summary":"Sets the qualifications the Administrator must hold under Louisiana's HCBS licensing standards, the Administrator's responsibilities, the written designation of a person to act when the Administrator is temporarily unavailable, and the notices LDH must receive when the Administrator changes.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-GOV-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/licensure-facility-need-review-service-modules-and-renewal/","title":"Licensure, Facility Need Review, Service Modules, and Renewal","category":"Governance","citation":"La. R.S. 40:2120.3","summary":"Explains the Louisiana HCBS provider license the Agency holds, the Facility Need Review approval it needs before licensure and before adding a module, what the license allows and forbids, the financial viability the Agency must keep, how modules are added or deleted, how a change of ownership is handled, and how and when the license is renewed.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-GOV-04","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/business-location-office-hours-telephone-branches-and-notices-of/","title":"Business Location, Office Hours, Telephone, Branches, and Notices of Change","category":"Governance","citation":"LAC 48:I.5031","summary":"Sets the conditions the Agency must meet to stay operational and licensed in Louisiana: a staffed business location with posted hours, a published telephone number answered 24 hours a day with calls returned within one business day, fax and email, rules for branch offices, and the written notices HSS and Medicaid must receive when the Agency's name, address, telephone, hours or key personnel change.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-GOV-05","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/surveys-statements-of-deficiencies-plans-of-correction-and-appeals/","title":"Surveys, Statements of Deficiencies, Plans of Correction, and Appeals","category":"Governance","citation":"LAC 48:I.5017","summary":"Explains how the Agency prepares for and cooperates with LDH licensing and complaint surveys, posts statements of deficiencies, writes and carries out plans of correction, and uses its rights to informal reconsideration, administrative reconsideration and administrative appeal, with the deadlines Louisiana sets.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-GOV-06","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/cessation-of-business-license-inactivation-and-closure/","title":"Cessation of Business, License Inactivation, and Closure","category":"Governance","citation":"LAC 48:I.5026","summary":"Sets out what the Agency must do if it closes, stops offering services, loses or surrenders its license, or leaves the Medicaid program, including the 30 days' advance written notices, the safe transfer of every client, the plan for client records approved by LDH, and the rules for inactivating the license after a declared or non-declared disaster.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-INC-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/incidents-accidents-and-critical-incident-reporting/","title":"Incidents, Accidents, and Critical Incident Reporting","category":"Quality","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.B.10","summary":"Sets out how staff respond to, report and document incidents, accidents and medical or behavioral emergencies involving a client, who is told and when, the OAAS critical incident process for waiver participants (SIMS entry or support coordinator contact within two hours of discovery), and how the Agency reviews every incident to prevent it happening again.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-QE-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/quality-enhancement-plan/","title":"Quality Enhancement Plan","category":"Quality","citation":"LAC 48:I.5061","summary":"Sets out the Agency’s quality enhancement (QE) plan under LAC 48:I.5061: a QE committee that meets every quarter (the rule requires at least bi-annual meetings), a quarterly review of the risk factors that affect client health, safety and welfare (complaints, incidents, and abuse, neglect and exploitation), action plans for individual and system-wide issues, reporting to the Administrator and governing body, and keeping at least 12 months of QE records.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-BUS-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/fees-billing-and-financial-arrangements/","title":"Fees, Billing, and Financial Arrangements","category":"Business","citation":"LAC 48:I.5039.D.2.d","summary":"Sets how the Agency tells each client, before admission, what services cost and who pays, how it bills private-pay clients, Medicaid and other payers accurately, what it may never charge, and how unpaid balances are handled under Louisiana's rules on involuntary discharge for nonpayment.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-BUS-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/electronic-visit-verification/","title":"Electronic Visit Verification","category":"Business","citation":"LDH EVV Policy and Procedures (OAAS-ADM-23-001 / OCDD-A-23-005)","summary":"Contains the written internal EVV policies the Louisiana Department of Health requires of in-home personal care providers: clocking in and out, no sharing of credentials, editing and manual entries with supporting documentation, the Connectivity Test form, the 80% threshold, signed user attestations, ending access when staff leave, and monitoring compliance.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-BUS-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/louisiana-medicaid-lt-pcs-and-waiver-provider-participation/","title":"Louisiana Medicaid LT-PCS and Waiver Provider Participation","category":"Business","citation":"Medicaid Services Manual, Chapter 30, §30.6","summary":"Sets the obligations the Agency takes on when it enrolls in Louisiana Medicaid to provide Long Term-Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) or waiver personal care: licensure and enrollment, the Freedom of Choice list, service strictly by the plan of care, the direct service worker wage floor and wage pass-through policy, cost reports, refusals to serve, reporting changes, and how the Medicaid layer fits with the licensing rules in this manual.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-ETH-01","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/code-of-conduct-professional-boundaries-identification-and-social/","title":"Code of Conduct, Professional Boundaries, Identification, and Social Media","category":"Ethics","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.C.1","summary":"Sets the standards of conduct, professional boundaries and attire every person who works for the Agency must meet in clients' homes, including carrying identification as an Agency employee, the rules on gifts, money and conflicts of interest, and the Agency's written social media policy, which Louisiana requires and which forbids photographs or recordings that could demean or humiliate a client.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-ETH-02","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/compliance-program-fraud-prevention-marketing-and-prohibited/","title":"Compliance Program, Fraud Prevention, Marketing, and Prohibited Inducements","category":"Ethics","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.B.3","summary":"Sets the Agency's compliance program to prevent, find and correct fraud, waste and abuse in Medicaid and other payers, and the written publicity and marketing policy Louisiana requires, including the prohibition of illegal or coercive inducement, solicitation and kickbacks, misleading advertising, and offers that could steer a client's choice of provider.","sample":false},{"ref":"LA-HC-ETH-03","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/nondiscrimination-civil-rights-and-language-access/","title":"Nondiscrimination, Civil Rights, and Language Access","category":"Ethics","citation":"LAC 48:I.5029.C.6","summary":"Sets the Agency's written policy to prevent discrimination against clients and staff, the client's Louisiana rights to impartial access and cultural access, and how the Agency provides interpreters, translated materials, sign language interpretation, auxiliary aids and service animal access, consistent with Section 1557 and other federal civil rights laws.","sample":false}],"copy":{"reviewed":"2026-11-08","intro":"For Louisiana providers licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Health Standards Section, as a home and community-based services (HCBS) provider with the personal care attendant module. The manual has 50 policies and 68 forms, written to LAC 48:I Chapter 50, the HCBS licensing rules, with the Medicaid LT-PCS and EVV rules for agencies enrolled in Medicaid. Each policy opens with a plain-English summary and names the rule section it follows, and every one is filled in with your agency's name and details. You get Word and PDF files to keep, and your staff read and sign each policy on their phone.","rulesTitle":"What Louisiana's HCBS rules ask your policies to cover","rules":[{"head":"Client rights and grievances.","text":"The client rights the rule lists, explained verbally and in writing, and a written grievance procedure that names free legal help and answers each grievance with a written report or decision within five business days.","cite":"LAC 48:I.5049; LAC 48:I.5051"},{"head":"Back-up staffing.","text":"A written back-up staffing plan for each client, given within five working days of accepting the client, and at least one trained back-up worker for every client.","cite":"LAC 48:I.5055.E.3; LAC 48:I.5081.B"},{"head":"Abuse and neglect.","text":"A worker tells a supervisor on the date of discovery and also makes a report within 24 hours, as state law requires. Telling a supervisor alone is not enough.","cite":"La. R.S. 40:2009.20; LAC 48:I.5055.G.7"},{"head":"Training.","text":"At least 16 hours of training on the topics the rule lists before a worker gives care, a competency evaluation, a basic first aid course within 45 days of hire, and at least eight hours of continuing education a year.","cite":"LAC 48:I.5055.H to J"},{"head":"Supervisory and quarterly visits.","text":"An unannounced, in-person supervisory visit of each direct care worker within 60 days of hire and at least once a year, and a visit to each client's home every quarter.","cite":"LAC 48:I.5055.M"},{"head":"Emergency preparedness.","text":"A plan approved by the governing body, prepared with the parish emergency office and updated each year, an emergency plan for every client, and notice to HSS by the next business day after an emergency interrupts services.","cite":"LAC 48:I.5063"}],"asks":[{"ref":"LA-HC-CMP-01","title":"Client Grievances and Complaints","category":"Client rights","q":"Show me your complaint log. When was this grievance received, and when did the client get your written decision?","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/client-grievances-and-complaints/"},{"ref":"LA-HC-SP-02","title":"Scheduling, Back-Up Staffing, and Missed Visits","category":"Service delivery","q":"What happens when a worker calls in sick at 6:00 a.m.? Walk me through it.","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/scheduling-back-up-staffing-and-missed-visits/"},{"ref":"LA-HC-ANE-01","title":"Recognizing and Reporting Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Extortion of Adults","category":"Safeguarding","q":"Who do you call for a client who is 45? For a client who is 72?","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/recognizing-and-reporting-abuse-neglect-exploitation-and-extortion-of/"},{"ref":"LA-HC-HR-03","title":"Direct Service Worker Registry, Exclusion, and Employment Eligibility Checks","category":"Human resources","q":"Show me the registry and OIG exclusion check print-outs for this worker before hire and for each of the last three months.","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/direct-service-worker-registry-exclusion-and-employment-eligibility/"},{"ref":"LA-HC-EP-01","title":"Emergency Preparedness, Continuity of Operations, and Client Emergency Plans","category":"Emergency preparedness","q":"During the last hurricane, how did you keep services going, and did you notify HSS of any interruption?","path":"/policies/louisiana/home-care/emergency-preparedness-continuity-of-operations-and-client-emergency/"}],"faq":[{"q":"Is this the right manual for my license?","a":"It is for HCBS providers licensed with the personal care attendant module. It also fits a provider with the in-home respite module, because in-home respite providers must meet the personal care attendant rules (LAC 48:I.5083). Home health agencies and hospices need the Louisiana home health or Louisiana hospice manual."},{"q":"Does it cover Medicaid LT-PCS and EVV?","a":"Yes, for agencies enrolled in Louisiana Medicaid. The policies add the LT-PCS rules in Chapter 30 of the Medicaid Services Manual and LDH's EVV Policy and Procedures, revised March 9, 2026. Where the two sets of rules differ, the policy states both and follows the stricter. For example, an LT-PCS client gets the back-up staffing plan before services begin (Chapter 30, §30.6)."},{"q":"Does it reflect the 2026 changes to criminal history checks?","a":"Yes. Policy LA-HC-HR-02 is written to Act 802 of 2026, which changed the rules on temporary and conditional employment from June 9, 2026 and expanded the convictions that bar employment from October 1, 2026 (La. R.S. 40:1203.3). The Direct Service Worker Registry and the federal OIG exclusion list are checked before hire and every month (LAC 48:I.9202.C)."},{"q":"Are the client forms in Spanish?","a":"Yes. The forms clients read and sign come in English and Spanish, filled in with your agency's details."},{"q":"What do the 50 policies cover?","a":"Client rights (4), service delivery (13), clinical tasks (1), safeguarding (2), infection control (2), emergency preparedness (1), records (2), privacy (3), human resources (8), governance (6), quality (2), business (3) and ethics (3)."}]},"guides":[{"path":"/guides/home-care-agency-policies/","h1":"What policies does a home care agency need?"},{"path":"/guides/abuse-neglect-exploitation-reporting/","h1":"Abuse, neglect and exploitation policies: what each state requires"},{"path":"/guides/infection-control-policy/","h1":"What should a home care infection control policy include?"},{"path":"/guides/staff-policy-acknowledgment/","h1":"Staff policy acknowledgment: how read-and-sign works in home care"},{"path":"/guides/how-to-write-policies-and-procedures/","h1":"How to write policies and procedures for a home care agency"},{"path":"/guides/how-often-review-policies/","h1":"How often should policies and procedures be reviewed and updated?"}]}