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256B.0653 HOME HEALTH AGENCY SERVICES.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

This section applies to home health agency services including home health aide, skilled nursing visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, and speech language pathology therapy.

Subd. 2.Definitions.

For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

(a) "Assessment" means an evaluation of the recipient's medical need for home health agency services by a registered nurse or appropriate therapist that is conducted within 30 days of a request.

(b) "Home care therapies" means occupational, physical, and respiratory therapy and speech-language pathology services provided in the home by a Medicare certified home health agency.

(c) "Home health agency services" means services delivered in the recipient's home residence, except as specified in section 256B.0625, by a home health agency to a recipient with medical needs due to illness, disability, or physical conditions.

(d) "Home health aide" means an employee of a home health agency who completes medically oriented tasks written in the plan of care for a recipient.

(e) "Home health agency" means a home care provider agency that is Medicare-certified.

(f) "Occupational therapy services" mean the services defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0390.

(g) "Physical therapy services" mean the services defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0390.

(h) "Respiratory therapy services" mean the services defined in chapter 147C and Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0003, subpart 37.

(i) "Speech-language pathology services" mean the services defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0390.

(j) "Skilled nurse visit" means a professional nursing visit to complete nursing tasks required due to a recipient's medical condition that can only be safely provided by a professional nurse to restore and maintain optimal health.

(k) "Store-and-forward technology" means telehomecare services that do not occur in real time via synchronous transmissions such as diabetic and vital sign monitoring.

(l) "Telehomecare" means the use of telecommunications technology via live, two-way interactive audiovisual technology which may be augmented by store-and-forward technology.

(m) "Telehomecare skilled nurse visit" means a visit by a professional nurse to deliver a skilled nurse visit to a recipient located at a site other than the site where the nurse is located and is used in combination with face-to-face skilled nurse visits to adequately meet the recipient's needs.

Subd. 3.Home health aide visits.

(a) Home health aide visits must be provided by a certified home health aide using a written plan of care that is updated in compliance with Medicare regulations. A home health aide shall provide hands-on personal care, perform simple procedures as an extension of therapy or nursing services, and assist in instrumental activities of daily living as defined in section 256B.0659. Home health aide visits must be provided in the recipient's home.

(b) All home health aide visits must have authorization under section 256B.0652. The commissioner shall limit home health aide visits to no more than one visit per day per recipient.

(c) Home health aides must be supervised by a registered nurse or an appropriate therapist when providing services that are an extension of therapy.

Subd. 4.Skilled nurse visit services.

(a) Skilled nurse visit services must be provided by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse, according to the written plan of care and accepted standards of medical and nursing practice according to chapter 148. Skilled nurse visit services must be ordered by a physician and documented in a plan of care that is reviewed and approved by the ordering physician at least once every 60 days. All skilled nurse visits must be medically necessary and provided in the recipient's home residence except as allowed under section 256B.0625, subdivision 6a.

(b) Skilled nurse visits include face-to-face and telehomecare visits with a limit of up to two visits per day per recipient. All visits must be based on assessed needs.

(c) Telehomecare skilled nurse visits are allowed when the recipient's health status can be accurately measured and assessed without a need for a face-to-face, hands-on encounter. All telehomecare skilled nurse visits must have authorization and are paid at the same allowable rates as face-to-face skilled nurse visits.

(d) The provision of telehomecare must be made via live, two-way interactive audiovisual technology and may be augmented by utilizing store-and-forward technologies. Individually identifiable patient data obtained through real-time or store-and-forward technology must be maintained as health records according to sections 144.291 to 144.298. If the video is used for research, training, or other purposes unrelated to the care of the patient, the identity of the patient must be concealed.

(e) Authorization for skilled nurse visits must be completed under section 256B.0652. A total of nine face-to-face skilled nurse visits per calendar year do not require authorization. All telehomecare skilled nurse visits require authorization.

Subd. 5.Home care therapies.

(a) Home care therapies include the following: physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, and speech and language pathology therapy services.

(b) Home care therapies must be:

(1) provided in the recipient's residence after it has been determined the recipient is unable to access outpatient therapy;

(2) prescribed, ordered, or referred by a physician and documented in a plan of care and reviewed, according to Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0390;

(3) assessed by an appropriate therapist; and

(4) provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency enrolled as a Medicaid provider agency.

(c) Restorative and specialized maintenance therapies must be provided according to Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0390. Physical and occupational therapy assistants may be used as allowed under Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0390, subpart 1, item B.

(d) For both physical and occupational therapies, the therapist and the therapist's assistant may not both bill for services provided to a recipient on the same day.

Subd. 6.Noncovered home health agency services.

The following are not eligible for payment under medical assistance as a home health agency service:

(1) telehomecare skilled nurses services that is communication between the home care nurse and recipient that consists solely of a telephone conversation, facsimile, electronic mail, or a consultation between two health care practitioners;

(2) the following skilled nurse visits:

(i) for the purpose of monitoring medication compliance with an established medication program for a recipient;

(ii) administering or assisting with medication administration, including injections, prefilling syringes for injections, or oral medication setup of an adult recipient, when, as determined and documented by the registered nurse, the need can be met by an available pharmacy or the recipient or a family member is physically and mentally able to self-administer or prefill a medication;

(iii) services done for the sole purpose of supervision of the home health aide or personal care assistant;

(iv) services done for the sole purpose to train other home health agency workers;

(v) services done for the sole purpose of blood samples or lab draw when the recipient is able to access these services outside the home; and

(vi) Medicare evaluation or administrative nursing visits required by Medicare;

(3) home health aide visits when the following activities are the sole purpose for the visit: companionship, socialization, household tasks, transportation, and education; and

(4) home care therapies provided in other settings such as a clinic, day program, or as an inpatient or when the recipient can access therapy outside of the recipient's residence.

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Revisor of Statutes