Initiation of Care and the Initial Assessment Visit
Sets the time frame and content of the initial assessment visit: a registered nurse (or the therapist when therapy is the only service ordered) visits within 48 hours of referral, within 48 hours of the patient’s return home, or on the practitioner-ordered start of care date; gives the rights and other notices before care; assesses immediate needs and, for Medicare patients, eligibility and homebound status; and obtains practitioner approval for changes to the referral orders.
About this policy
- Policy number
- OH-HH-ADM-02
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 42 CFR §484.55(a)
- Library
- Ohio home health · 59 policies
- Category
- Service delivery
- Sections
- 20
In short
- A registered nurse makes the first visit within 48 hours of referral, within 48 hours of the patient’s return home, or on the start date the practitioner ordered.
- A therapist may make the first visit only when therapy is the only service ordered.
- Give the rights notice and advance directive information before any care.
- If you cannot make the visit on time, tell the clinical manager at once, who tells the practitioner.
- Get the practitioner’s approval before adding or changing any service after the evaluation.
What's inside
20 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (42 CFR §484.55(a))
- 5. Time Frames That Apply
- 6. Who Makes the Visit
- 7. Before the Visit
- 8. At the Initial Assessment Visit
- 9. When the Plan Must Change After the Evaluation
- 10. When the Visit Cannot Be Made on Time
- 11. If the Patient’s Needs Cannot Be Met
- 12. Ohio Medicaid Patients
- 13. Responsibilities
- 14. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 15. Staff Training
- 16. References
- 17. Related Policies and Forms
- 18. Approval
- 19. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- For this patient, when was the referral received and when was the initial assessment visit made?
- Who made the visit, and why could a therapist make it here?
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