Contractual Services

(A) A hospice may contract with other health care providers for the provision of all required services. (B) All contracted services shall meet the applicable provisions of 105 CMR 141.000. (C) The hospice program shall assure continuity of patient/family care in home, outpatient and inpatient settings. (D) The hospice program shall retain professional management responsibility for contracted services and ensure they are furnished in a safe and effective manner by qualified personnel in accordance with the patient’s plan of care. (E) When services are not provided directly by a hospice a written agreement shall define the scope of contracted services and the manner of maintaining continuity of care between contracted services and those services provided directly by the hospice. The agreement shall at a minimum specify the following: (1) the services to be provided; (2) the duties and responsibilities of each of the contracting parties for the coordination and supervision of care, including delineation of the role(s) of the hospice and contractor in the admission process, patient/family assessment and the interdisciplinary group care conferences; (3) the stipulation that the hospice is responsible for all hospice services whether or not the services are furnished under contract and may only be provided with the express authorization of the hospice; (4) the financial and reimbursement arrangements, including any arrangements for donated services; (5) the manner in which contract services shall be coordinated, supervised, and evaluated by the hospice program; (6) requirements for documenting that services are furnished in accordance with the agreement; and (7) qualifications of the personnel providing the services. (F) Contracts shall be dated and signed by an authorized agent of the hospice and the contracting agency. (G) All contracts shall be reviewed and/or revised by the hospice on an annual basis. (H) The quality of the contracted services shall be regularly evaluated by the hospice as specified in 105 CMR 141.210.