Home Medical Care Patient Rights

Home medical care patients have the right:

 

1.  To competent, individualized health care that is given without discrimination to race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, source of payment, or political beliefs.

2.  To expect a written care plan which is in accordance with physicians’ orders and to participate in all decisions affecting his/her care and plan of treatment.

3.  To be informed in advance about the care to be furnished, the disciplines that will furnish the care and the proposed visit frequency.

4.  To know the identity and responsibilities of those who are coordinating, rendering, and supervising the care, including health care providers under contractual relationships.

5.  To have his/her privacy respected and all health, social, and financial information treated as confidential.  The patient may approve or refuse to release medical information to any individual outside of the agency, except in the case of transfer to another agency or health facility, or as required by law, accrediting bodies or third-party payment contract.

6.  To a complete explanation of all services provided, initially and on a continuous basis.  To health teaching and education in a language or form the patient can reasonably be expected to understand. 

7.   To expect recommendations for services, evaluations, and referrals, appropriate to the nature of his/her illness and rehabilitation, to other community agencies or health care agencies that can assist or enhance the provision of health care regardless of ability to pay.

8.  To be fully informed as to the nature and method of experimental treatment or research and either give documented voluntary informed consent or refuse such treatment.

9.  To be assured that transfer or discharge from the agency is only for medical reasons, self-welfare, or the welfare of others.  To participate in the transfer process, to another agency or level of care, if the agency can no longer meet the care or needs of the patient because of the agency’s mission, philosophy, or limitations in its scope of care or services.

10.  To be involved in resolving ethical issues or conflicts about care or service.

11. To have his/her property and person treated with respect.

12. To voice complaints or grievances, or ask questions about care or services and recommend changes in policies and services without being subject to coercion, discrimination, reprisal or unreasonable interruption of service for so doing.  All complaints will be investigated and documented, including resolution, within five (5) working days after their receipt.

13.  To know that his/her family or guardian may exercise the patient’s rights if the patient has been judged incompetent by a court of law.

14.  To know that Medicare / Medicaid are accepted as payment in full.  If you enroll with an HMO during our period of care, then you may be liable and may be billed for services rendered.

15.  To be advised, orally and in writing, of any changes in the payment expectations, as soon as possible, but no later than 30 calendar days from the date the agency becomes aware of the change.

16.  To be informed of the financial responsibilities under private insurance arrangements.

17.  To continuity of services.

18.  To select or change his/her own physician, treatment or agency.

19.  To refuse treatments and to be informed about the consequences of such action.

20.  To have Advance Directives honored as permitted by local, state, and federal law.

21.  To choose or reject ancillary services and to be fully informed of any financial gain or relationship to the agency of such services.