Discharge Notice, Discharge for Cause, and Reduction or Termination of Services
Sets out the written notice the Agency gives before it reduces or ends a patient's care, when it gives 30 days' advance written notice, how it handles discharge when the home is unsafe or the patient or others in the home are disruptive, abusive or uncooperative (discharge for cause), the steps it must take first, the Medicare notices it uses, and the transfer and discharge rights a patient of a Medicare-certified agency has under 42 CFR §484.50(d). It also explains the summary of these policies given to every patient at the start of care.
About this policy
- Policy number
- LA-HH-DC-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- LAC 48:I §9123.G.1
- Library
- Louisiana home health · 57 policies
- Category
- Service delivery
- Sections
- 18
In short
- Give written notice before care is reduced or ended.
- When we start a discharge for most reasons, the patient gets at least 30 days' written notice.
- Before a discharge for cause, tell the patient and providers, try to fix the problem and write it all down.
- If the home is unsafe, leave if threatened, report it, and call 911 if needed.
- Give Medicare patients the Medicare non-coverage notice at least 2 days before covered care ends.
- Never threaten a patient with discharge or discharge a patient for complaining.
What's inside
18 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (LAC 48:I §9123.G.1)
- 5. Notice Required Before Care Is Reduced or Ended
- 6. Unsafe Conditions in the Home
- 7. Discharge for Cause
- 8. Federal Transfer and Discharge Rights (if the Agency Is Medicare-Certified)
- 9. Medicare Beneficiary Notices
- 10. Information Given at the Start of Care
- 11. Responsibilities
- 12. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 13. Staff Training
- 14. References
- 15. Related Policies and Forms
- 16. Approval
- 17. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Show me the written notice you gave this patient before you ended care. When was it given?
- Tell me about the last patient you discharged for cause. What did you do first to resolve the problem?
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