{"ref":"PA-HC-ADM-01","title":"Intake, Acceptance of Consumers, and Initial Assessment","category":"Service delivery","summary":"Sets out how the Agency handles a referral, decides fairly and consistently whether it can safely meet a consumer’s non-skilled home care needs, carries out an initial home visit assessment, signs a service agreement, and completes every step that must happen before the first visit, including the information packet and, for waiver participants, an approved service plan and confirmed eligibility.","inShort":["Call back every referral within 1 business day.","Accept only non-skilled home care needs the Agency can staff safely. Refer skilled nursing or therapy to a licensed home health care agency.","A supervisor visits the home before services start to assess needs, preferences and safety.","Nothing starts until the checklist is done: packet signed, service agreement signed, service plan agreed, and a qualified worker briefed.","For waiver participants, confirm an approved service plan and eligibility before the first visit."],"primaryCitation":"28 Pa. Code §611.57(c)","citations":["28 Pa. Code §611.57(a)(1)","28 Pa. Code §611.57(c)","28 Pa. Code §611.5","28 Pa. Code §611.53","28 Pa. Code §51.12(a)(1)","28 Pa. Code §51.13(a)(1)","35 P.S. §448.802a","55 Pa. Code §52.14(g)","55 Pa. Code §52.14(h)","55 Pa. Code §52.42(h)"],"federalCitations":[],"surveyorAsks":["Walk me through what happens from the first call to the first visit.","How do you decide whether you can accept a consumer? Show me a referral you declined and why."],"forms":[{"ref":"PA-HC-ADM-01-A","title":"Intake and Initial Home Visit Assessment"},{"ref":"PA-HC-ADM-01-B","title":"Home Care Service Agreement"}],"headings":["Terms of Reference","1. Purpose","2. Scope","3. Definitions","4. Policy Statement (28 Pa. Code §611.57(c))","5. Taking a Referral","6. Deciding Whether the Agency Can Accept","7. Initial Home Visit Assessment","8. Before the First Visit","9. The Home Care Service Agreement","10. Declining a Referral","11. Responsibilities","12. Records and Compliance Monitoring","13. Staff Training","14. References","15. Related Policies and Forms","16. Approval","17. Revision History"],"version":"1.0","sample":false,"pack":"pa-hca","state":"Pennsylvania","service":"Home care","guides":[{"path":"/guides/home-care-agency-policies/","h1":"What policies does a home care agency need?"}],"agency":{"name":"Sample Agency","legalName":"Sample Agency, LLC","logo":null}}