<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" citation="COMAR 10.07.22.09" title_num="10" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="22" heading="Residential Agreement.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Patients admitted to the hospice house or their representatives shall sign, before or at the time of admission, a patient agreement that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Is a clear and complete statement of commitments agreed to by the parties and the services provided in the hospice house;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Is accurate, legible, and communicated in a language understandable to patient and family; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Conforms to all applicable federal, State, and local laws and requirements.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The residential agreement shall include, at a minimum:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The services to be provided by the hospice house;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An explanation of the hospice house’s complaint or grievance procedure;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Procedures to be followed in transferring the patient to another facility;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The availability of secure storage of patient’s belongings;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The patient’s and family’s rights and obligations concerning use of the hospice house, including common areas;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Written plan and provisions for continued emergency preparedness services;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>An acknowledgement that the patient or the patient’s representative has reviewed all hospice house rules, requirements, restrictions, or special conditions that the general hospice program will impose on the patient; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Admission and discharge policies and procedures including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Those actions, circumstances or conditions which may result in the patient’s discharge from the hospice house;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The procedures which the hospice house shall follow if it intends to discharge a patient without the patient’s agreement, thereby terminating the residential agreement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The procedures which the patient shall follow if the patient wishes to terminate the residential agreement.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The residential agreement shall include financial provisions, which include at a minimum:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Rate structure and payment provisions covering:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>All rates to be charged to the patient, including but not limited to any non-service related charges; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Payment arrangements and fees, if known, for third-party services not covered by the residential agreement, but arranged for by either the patient, patient’s representative, or the hospice house; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Obligations of the hospice house and the patient, or the patient’s representative, as to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Handling the finances of the patient;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Arranging and contracting for services not covered by the patient agreement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Disposition of the patient’s property upon discharge or death of the patient;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Identification of the persons responsible for payment of all fees and charges and a clear indication of whether the person’s responsibility is or is not limited to the extent of the patient’s funds;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Fair and reasonable billing, payment, and credit policies;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The procedures the hospice house will follow in the event the patient or representative can no longer pay for services provided for in the patient agreement or for services or care needed by the patient; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Terms governing the refund of any prepaid fees or charges in the event of a patient’s discharge from the hospice house or termination of the patient agreement.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The hospice house shall maintain the patient agreement in the patient’s record.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>