WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                         Ch. 432

CHAPTER 432
(House Bill 1403)

AN ACT concerning

Home Health Agencies - Accreditation

FOR the purpose of providing that home health agencies may obtain accreditation by
certain organizations; requiring home health agencies to submit certain reports to
the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene; specifying that certain reports shall be
available for public inspection; authorizing the Secretary to inspect home health
agencies; permitting the Secretary to conduct a certain survey; requiring a certain
evaluation; terminating the provisions of this Act on a certain date; and generally
relating to home health agencies.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 19-404
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1990 Replacement Volume and 1993 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health - General

19-404.

(a)     The Department shall adopt rules and regulations that set standards for the
care, treatment, health, safety, welfare, and comfort of patients of home health agencies.

(b)     The rules and regulations shall provide for the licensing of home health
agencies and annual license renewal, and shall establish standards that require as a
minimum, that all home health agencies:

(1)     Within 10 days of acceptance of a patient for skilled care, make and
record all reasonable efforts to contact a physician to obtain the signed order required
under paragraph (2);

(2)     That accept patients for skilled care do so only on the signed order of a
physician obtained within 28 days after acceptance;

(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;

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