Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2184

            The administration of this Part is vested in the Louisiana Department of Health. The department shall:

            (1) Prepare and furnish all forms necessary under the provisions of this Part relative to the licensure of hospices.

            (2) Promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Part in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. The rules shall include but not be limited to the following:

            (a) The qualifications for professional and ancillary personnel in order to adequately furnish hospice care, including a requirement that professional personnel shall possess current Louisiana licenses or certificates which are otherwise required by law. The position of social worker shall not require board certification but shall require a master’s degree from an accredited graduate school of social work.

            (b) Standards for the organization and quality of patient care.

            (c) Procedures for maintaining records.

            (d) Standards for inpatient facilities, including minimum requirements for visitation. The rules shall include the right to consensual nonsexual physical contact, such as hand-holding or hugging, between a patient and his visitor.

            (e) Requirements for informed consent.

            (f) Standards for contractual arrangements and professional ancillary hospice services.

            (g) Policies and procedures for:

            (i) Admissions criteria.

            (ii) Disclosure of financial information.

            (iii) Patient and family rights.

            (iv) Utilization review.

            (v) Confidentiality.

            (vi) Quality assurance.

            (vii) Staff orientation and training.

            (viii) Continuing education of interdisciplinary team members.

            (h) Requirements for minimum volunteer services of at least five percent of the total hours of service.

            (i) Interdisciplinary team requirements.

            (j) Implementation of the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 40:2192.

            Acts 1988, No. 941, §2; Acts 1999, No. 657, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2019, No. 229, §1; Acts 2023, No. 367, §1.