CFR

484.2—Definitions.

As used in this part, unless the context indicates otherwise—Bylaws or equivalent means a set of rules adopted by an HHA for governing the agency's operation.

Branch office means a location or site from which a home health agency provides services within a portion of the total geographic area served by the parent agency. The branch office is part of the home health agency and is located sufficiently close to share administration, supervision, and services in a manner that renders it unnecessary for the branch independently to meet the conditions of participation as a home health agency.

Clinical note means a notation of a contact with a patient that is written and dated by a member of the health team, and that describes signs and symptoms, treatment and drugs administered and the patient's reaction, and any changes in physical or emotional condition.

HHA stands for home health agency.

Nonprofit agency means an agency exempt from Federal income taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Parent home health agency means the agency that develops and maintains administrative controls of subunits and/or branch offices.

Primary home health agency means the agency that is responsible for the services furnished to patients and for implementation of the plan of care.

Progress note means a written notation, dated and signed by a member of the health team, that summarizes facts about care furnished and the patient's response during a given period of time.

Proprietary agency means a private profit-making agency licensed by the State.

Public agency means an agency operated by a State or local government.

Subdivision means a component of a multi-function health agency, such as the home care department of a hospital or the nursing division of a health department, which independently meets the conditions of participation for HHAs. A subdivision that has subunits or branch offices is considered a parent agency.

Subunit means a semi-autonomous organization that—

(1) Serves patients in a geographic area different from that of the parent agency; and

(2) Must independently meet the conditions of participation for HHAs because it is too far from the parent agency to share administration, supervision, and services on a daily basis.

Summary report means the compilation of the pertinent factors of a patient's clinical notes and progress notes that is submitted to the patient's physician.

Supervision means authoritative procedural guidance by a qualified person for the accomplishment of a function or activity. Unless otherwise specified in this part, the supervisor must be on the premises to supervise an individual who does not meet the qualifications specified in § 484.4.

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