Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. CONTRACTS PURPOSE: To maintain quality control of services provided to the agency’s patients, Direction, coordination and overall supervision of contract personnel. GENERAL STATEMENT: The agency provides a variety of home health services for the patients and the community that it serves. In order to provide these services, the agency may contract with other community-based agencies and/or individuals to assist in the provision of care. Administrative staff has the responsibility for negotiating a contract with another provider or school and for ensuring that the contract meets the specifications delineated further in this policy. Written service contracts with individuals and/or other entities are signed and dated by authorized principals of each party and are reviewed annually. POLICY: DIRECT SERVICE CONTRACTS Contractors provide services to the agency as outlined in a written and executed agreement. The agreement specifies services to be provided, the fee to be paid for services, and conditions by which the contractor must abide. Contractors are reimbursed by the agency and do not bill the patient or third-party payers. · An interview and evaluation process is conducted with the prospective contractor to determine qualifications and availability for needed services · A standardized contract is completed and signed by the Administrator and the contractor. A signed contract is required before outside personnel are permitted to provide services to agency patients. · The written contract includes all the following features: Notation that patients are admitted and discharged by the home health agency Specification of the scope and types of services to be provided by the Contractor Confirmation that the contractor will conform to all applicable agency policies and procedures, including personnel qualifications as well as compliance with professional standards Clarification of themanner in which services will be controlled, coordinated, supervised, and evaluated by the home health agency and identification of parties responsible for supervising contract personnel The role of the contractor in the following: Assessing patients, initially and ongoing; Coordinating, supervising, and evaluating care provided; Participating in the care planning process, development of care plan, and in care coordination conferences; Scheduling visits and conducting periodic patient evaluations; Discharge planning; The procedures for submitting clinical/clinical notes and time frame for completion (1 week); The procedure in documenting care and patient outcomes. The procedures for determining contractor charges and reimbursement The statement that the services are to be provided only in accordance with the patient’s plan of care and that the plan of care will not be altered by the contracted individual without approval of the patient’s physician. Timeframes for placement of contract staff and contingency staffing plan. Term or period of the agreement and conditions for renewal and termination · Contracts are reviewed on an annual basis with a clause for automatic renewal. EDUCATION CONTRACTS A written contract that specifies the responsibilities of the educational institution and the agency is required before students are permitted to provide services to agency patients Home Health Agency Agreements G-1