2008                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                    Ch. 566

SHALL ESTABLISH STANDARDS THAT REQUIRE AS A MINIMUM, THAT ALL
HOME HEALTH AGENCIES:

(1)  ADMIT THAT ACCEPT PATIENTS FOR SKILLED CARE DO SO
ONLY ON THE SIGNED ORDER OF A PHYSICIAN;

(2)  PROVIDE SKILLED NURSING SERVICES, HOME HEALTH AID
SERVICES, AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER DEFINED SERVICE;

(3)  ADOPT PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS
AND BIOLOGICALS;

(4)  MAINTAIN CLINICAL RECORDS ON ALL PATIENTS
ACCEPTED FOR SKILLED CARE;

(5)  ESTABLISH PATIENT CARE POLICIES AND PERSONNEL
POLICIES;

(6)  HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT LEAST 8 HOURS A DAY 5
DAYS A WEEK, AND AVAILABLE ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS 24 HOURS A DAY,
7 DAYS A WEEK;

(7)  MAKE SERVICE AVAILABLE TO AN INDIVIDUAL IN NEED
WITHIN 24 HOURS OF A REFERRAL WHEN STIPULATED BY A PHYSICIAN'S
ORDER;

(8)  HAVE A DESIGNATED SUPERVISOR OF PATIENT CARE WHO
IS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE AGENCY AND IS AVAILABLE AT ALL
TIMES DURING OPERATING HOURS AND ADDITIONALLY AS NEEDED; AND

(9)  HAVE AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE AGENCY A PERSON

WHO HAS 3 YEARS AT LEAST 1 YEAR OF SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE IN
HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, HOME HEALTH MANAGEMENT, OR PUBLIC HEALTH

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND WHO IS:

(I)  A LICENSED PHYSICIAN;

(II)  A REGISTERED NURSE; OR

(III)  A COLLEGE GRADUATE WITH A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN A HEALTH RELATED FIELD.

(c) The rules and regulations may include provisions that:

(1)  Deal with the establishment of home health
agencies;

(2)  Require each home health agency to have its
policies established by a professional group that includes at
least:

(i) 1 physician;

(ii) 1 registered nurse;