Patient Rights for Home Care

The National Association for Homecare Patient Rights for Home Care

1. The patient is fully informed of all his/her rights and responsibilities.
2. The patient has the right to appropriate and professional, care relating to physician orders.
3. The patient has the right of choice of care providers.
4. The patient has the right to receive information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment.
5. The patient has the right to refuse treatment within the confines of the law and to be informed of the consequences of his action.
6. The patient has the right to privacy.
7. The patient has the right to receive a timely response to his request for service from the agency.
8. A patient will be admitted for service only if the agency has the ability to provide safe professional care at the level of intensity needed. The patient has the right to reasonable continuity of care.
9. The patient has the right to be informed within reasonable time of anticipated termination of service or plans for transfer to another agency.
10. The patient has the right to voice grievances and suggest changes in service or staff without fear of restraint or discrimination.
11. A fair hearing shall be available to any individual to whom service has been denied, reduced, or terminated or who is otherwise aggrieved by agency action. The fair hearing procedure shall be set forth by each agency as appropriate to the unique patient situation (e.g., funding source, level of care, diagnosis).
12. The patient has the right to be fully informed of agency policies and charges for services, including eligibility for third-party reimbursements.
13. A patient denied service solely on his/her inability to pay shall have the right of referral.
14. The patient and the public have the right to honest, accurate, forthright information regarding the home care industry in general and his/her chosen agency in particular (e.g., cost/visit, employee qualifications).