Home Health Agencies - Authority of Secretary of Health and Mental
Hygiene - Repeal of Termination Date

FOR the purpose of repealing a certain termination date concerning certain
regulatory authority of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
concerning home health agencies; and generally relating to the continuation of
certain regulatory authority concerning home health agencies.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 19-404
Annotated Code of Maryland

(1996 Replacement Volume and 1998 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 432 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1994
Section 3

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;

(7) Make service available to an individual in need within 24 hours of a
referral when stipulated by a physician's order;