PATIENT BILL OF RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Home care patients have a right to be notified in verbally and in writing of their rights and responsibilities before treatment begins and to exercise those rights. Home care providers have an obligation to protect and promote the patient’s rights.

 Patients have a Right to Dignity and Respect
 Home care patients have the right to competent, concerned, individualized care without regard to race, gender, national origin,   color, age, political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability or diagnosis. The   patient will be free from discrimination of any kind. The Agency will respect each patient during the provision of care in   accordance with fundamental human, civil, constitutional and statutory rights and will assist the patient in the exercise of their   rights. The organization recognizes that each patient is an individual with unique health care needs and because of the   importance of respecting each patient’s personal dignity, provides considerate, respectful care focused on the patient’s individual  needs. 

Patients have the right:
  • To have relationships with Agency staff that are based on honesty and ethical standards of conduct. 
  • To have the right to be informed of the patient’s rights in a language and manner the individual understands.  
  • The patient has the right to be informed of the right to access auxiliary aids and language services and how to access these services.. 
  • To have his or her property and person treated with respect.
  • To be free from: verbal, mental, sexual and physical abuse, including injuries of unknown source, neglect and misappropriation of property.
  • To make complaints to the HHA regarding treatment or care that is (or fails to be) furnished, and the lack of respect for property and/or person by anyone who is furnishing services on behalf of the HHA. The patient or legal representative has the right to the complaint being investigated and to know the disposition of such complaints. To lodge a complaint call us at 702-894-9449 or contact the Agency Administrator: Jim Sides, 1880 E Warm Springs Rd, Ste 135, Las Vegas, NV 89119. 
  • To be advised of the availability of the state toll-free HHA Hotline number which is HHA Hotline Number: 1-800-225-3414 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week The purpose of the Hotline is to receive complaints or questions 
  • To be free from any discrimination or reprisal for exercising his or her rights or for voicing grievances to the HHA or an outside entity.

 Decision Making

 Patients have the right:
  • To participate in, be informed about, and consent or refuse care in advance of and during treatment, where appropriate with respect to:
                    * The completion of all assessments; 
                    * The care to be furnished, based on the comprehensive assessment;
                    * Establishing and revising the plan of care;
                    * The frequency of visits;
                    * Expected outcomes of care, including patient-identified goals, and anticipated risks and benefits;
                    * Any factors that could impact treatment effectiveness; and
                    * Any changes in the care to be furnished.
  • To receive all of the services outlined in the plan of care.
  • To accept or refuse treatment, and the right to formulate advance directives. 
  • To be informed, in writing, of the policies and procedures for implementing advance directive including any limitations if the provider cannot implement an advance directive on the basis of conscience.
  • To receive care without condition on, or discrimination based on the execution of advance directives.
  • To refuse services without fear of reprisal or discrimination.
  • The right to exercise his or her rights as a patient of the Agency.
  • The patient’s legal representative may exercise the patient’s rights when the patient has been judged incompetent. 
   The Agency will honor court decisions on competency and recognize the role of the appointed legal representative.

 Privacy

 Patients have the right:
  • To have a confidential clinical record. Access to or release of patient information and clinical records is permitted in accordance with 45 CFR parts 160 and 164. 
  • To confidentiality of information about their health, social and financial circumstances, and about what takes place in the home.
  • To expect the Agency to release information only as required by law or authorized by the patient, and to be informed of procedures for disclosure.

 Financial Information

 Patients have the right:
    •To be advised of:
               * The extent to which payment for HHA services may be expected from Medicare, Medicaid, or any other      
                  Federally-funded or Federal aid program known to the HHA;
                * The charges for services that may not be covered by Medicare, Medicaid or any other Federally-funded
                   or Federal aid program known to the HHA;
                * The charges the individual may have to pay before any care is initiated; and 
                * If, after services begin, a change occurs in the patient status which necessitates new services being
                  added, the HHA must advise the patient and representative (if any) of the extent of payment and patient
                  liability as soon as possible, in advance of the next home health visit.  
  • To have access upon request to all bills for service the patient has received regardless of whether the bills are paid out-of-pocket or by another party.
  • To receive proper written notice, in advance of a specified service being furnished, if the HHA believes that a service may be non-covered care; or in advance of the HHA reducing or terminating ongoing care. The HHA will comply with all home health advance beneficiary notices (ABN’s), including restrictions on who may receive the ABN on the patient’s behalf. 

 Quality of Care

 Patients have the right:
  • To receive care of the highest quality.
  • To be admitted by the Agency only if it has the resources needed to provide the care safely and at the required level of intensity, as determined by a professional assessment; the Agency with less than optimal resources may nevertheless admit the patient if a more appropriate provider is not available, but only after fully informing the patient of the Agency’s limitations and the lack of suitable alternative arrangements.
  • To be told what to do in the case of an emergency.
  • To be advised of the names, addresses and telephone numbers for the federally and state funded entities that serve the area where the patient resides: 
                *Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division: 1860 E Sahara, Las Vegas, NV 89104. 702-486-3545
                *Southern Nevada Centers for Independent Living: 2950 S Rainbow Blvd, Ste 220, Las Vegas, NV 
                  89146 702-889-4216
                *Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center: 2820 W Charleston Blvd. #11 Las Vegas, NV 89102  
                   702-257-8150
                *Clark County Senior Advocate Program: 3900 Cambridge St, Las Vegas, NV 89119, 702-455-7051
                *Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Bureau of Healthcare Quality and Compliance: 
                   4220 S Maryland Parkway, Bldg A, Ste 100, Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-486-6515
                *Livanta, LLC BFCC-QIO 10820 Guilford Road, Ste 202, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-1105 
                   1-877-588-1123 
  • The patient and representative (if any) have a right to be informed of the HHA’s policies for transfer and discharge. The HHA may only transfer or discharge the patient from the HHA if:
                *The transfer or discharge is necessary for the patient’s welfare because the HHA and the physician 
                   who is responsible for the home health plan of care agree that the HHA can no longer meet the patient’s
                   needs,  based on the patient’s acuity. The HHA must arrange a safe and appropriate transfer to other care
                   entities when the needs of the patient exceed the HHA’s capabilities; 
                *The patient or payer will no longer pay for the services provided by the HHA; 
                *The transfer or discharge is appropriate because the physician who is responsible for the home
                   health plan of care and the HHA agree that the measurable outcomes and goals set forth in the plan of
                   care have been achieved, and the HHA and the physician who is responsible for the home health plan of
                  care agree that the patient no longer needs the HHA’s services;
                *The patient refuses services, or elects to be transferred or discharged;
                *The HHA determines that the patient’s (or other persons in the patient’s home) behavior is disruptive,
                   abusive, or uncooperative to the extent that delivery of care to the patient or the ability of the HHA
                   to operate effectively is seriously impaired.

The Agency shall assure that:
  • All medically related home care is provided in accordance with physician’s orders and that a plan of care specifies their frequency and duration.
  • All medically related personal care is provided by an appropriately trained Home Health Aide who is supervised by a Registered Nurse or qualified home care professional.

 Patient Responsibility  

 Patients have the responsibility to:
  • Notify the Agency of any unexpected changes in their condition, e.g., hospitalization, changes in the plan of care, symptoms to be reported, etc.
  • Follow the plan of care.
  • Notify the Agency if the visit schedule needs to be changed.
  • Notify the Agency of the existence of, and any changes made to, advance directives.
  • Advise the Agency of any problems or dissatisfactions with the services provided.
  • Provide a safe environment for care.
  • Carry out mutually agreed responsibilities.
  • Follow instructions and express any concerns you have about your ability to follow and comply with proposed plan or course of treatment.
  • Provide accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to the patient’s health.
  • Know that in the event of an emergency that disrupts Agency’s services to patient, that Agency will make every effort to visit or telephone patient. However, if patient has a medical emergency and is not able to contact the Agency, the patient should access the nearest emergency medical facility.
  • Ask questions about care or services.
  • Provide feedback about service needs or expectations.
  • Participate in pain management including:
                *Discussing with nurse what to expect regarding pain, pain management, and pain relief options;
                *Assisting your nurse in assessing pain;
                *Request pain relief when pain first begins and tell your nurse if pain is not relieved;
                * Discuss with your nurse any worries you have about taking pain medication.
  • Follow Agency policies and procedures concerning patient care and conduct.
  • Show respect and consideration for Agency’s personnel and property.
  • Meet financial commitments by promptly meeting any financial obligation agreed upon with the Agency.
  • Notify the Agency of any insurance changes, including signing up for a Medicare Advantage Plan.
  • Understand and accept consequences for the outcomes if the care and services or treatment plans are not followed. 
  • Notify the Agency if your homebound status changes.