NAC449.785. Contracts for home health services.

If a home health agency provides home health services under a contract with another agency, person or nonprofit agency, it must require that such services be furnished in accordance with the terms of the written contract. The contract must:

     1. Provide for retention by the primary agency of responsibility for and control of the services.

     2. Designate the services which are to be provided, the setting and the geographical area served. Services provided must be within the scope and limitations set forth in the plan of treatment and may not be altered in type, amount, frequency or duration, except in the case of adverse reaction.

     3. Describe how the contracted personnel are to be supervised.

     4. Describe how services are coordinated with the primary agency.

     5. Provide for the reporting of clinical notes and observations by contracted personnel for inclusion in the records of the primary home health agency to facilitate planning and evaluating patient care and to document the care given. Periodic progress notes by appropriate members of the staff must be submitted at least every 14 days and more often if warranted by the patient’s condition.

     6. Specify the method of determining charges and reimbursement by the primary agency for specific services provided under contract. Only the primary agency may bill for or collect for services.

     7. Specify the period of time the contract is to be in effect and how frequently it is to be reviewed. The contract must be reviewed annually.

     8. Assure that personnel and services contracted for, meet the requirements specified in NAC 449.749 to 449.800, inclusive, for home health agency personnel and services, including licensure, personnel qualifications, medical examination, functions, supervision, orientation, in-service education and case conferences.

     9. Provide for the acceptance of patients for home health service only by the primary home health agency. Patients may not be admitted for home health service by any person without an appropriate review of the case and acceptance of the patient by the agency.

     10. Assure that personnel and services contracted for will provide treatment to referred patients without regard to race, creed or national origin.

     [Bd. of Health, Home Health Agencies Part II Chap. III § F subsec. 2, eff. 1-10-74]