Section 7.12.318. Admission criteria.

	(a)  A hospice agency may accept a client for hospice care only if the hospice agency has a reasonable expectation that the hospice agency will adequately meet the client's needs. At the time an individual is accepted for care, or no later than two days after the day when care is initiated, the agency shall obtain written certification that the client has a terminal illness. If written certification cannot be obtained within two days, the agency shall obtain verbal certification within two days, and obtain written certification as follows:  
		(1) for a volunteer hospice agency, within 21 days, from the attending physician;  
		(2) for a full-service hospice agency, before billing for services, from the physician member of the interdisciplinary team or, if the team does not have a physician member, from the attending physician or another physician.  
	(b)  A full-service hospice agency shall obtain an updated certification of terminal illness at the end of each of the first two 90-day periods of care. If a client remains under the care of the agency for more than two 90-day periods, the agency shall reevaluate the client every 60 days afterwards with respect to the prognosis for life expectancy and shall consider whether transfer to another type of health care provider is indicated.  
	(c)  A hospice agency may not reject a client for hospice services based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, or ethnicity.  
	(d)  A hospice agency may not terminate or reduce care provided to a client because of the client's inability to pay for the care.  
	(e)  In addition to meeting the applicable requirements of (a) - (d) of this section, a hospice agency shall consider the following factors before accepting a client for hospice services:  
		(1) the adequacy and suitability of agency staff and resources to provide necessary services;  
		(2) assessments of the client's medical, nursing, and social needs pertaining to the benefits derived from hospice care;  
		(3) attitudes of the client and the client's family toward hospice care;  
		(4) degree of client and family awareness of their respective rights and responsibilities;  
		(5) the agency's ability to manage any medical emergency that is likely to occur, based on an assessment of known risk factors related to the client's condition;  
		(6) the availability, ability, and willingness of others to participate in the client's care;  
		(7) assurance that services can be effectively coordinated through liaison with organizations and individuals also providing care to the client.  

Authorities

47.32.010;47.32.030

Notes

Reference

7 AAC 12.310
7 AAC 12.331

Authority

AS 47.32.010 AS 47.32.030

History

Eff. 5/24/2007, Register 182