Vermont § 6305 - Review of access, cost, and quality issues; remediation process

§ 6305. Review of access, cost, and quality issues; remediation process

• (a) The Commissioner shall exercise such duties and responsibilities as shall be necessary
  for the implementation of this subchapter and for the active, ongoing supervision
  of the activities of the home health agencies under this subchapter. (b) In a form and manner and at intervals prescribed by the Commissioner, the Commissioner
  shall collect and analyze data regarding access to and the cost and quality of home
  health services in Vermont. The data shall include information on complaints, waiting
  lists, numbers of individuals ineligible for services, numbers of individuals eligible
  for but not provided services, numbers of patients served under 65 years of age and
  65 years of age and over, total number of visits and hours provided to patients by
  each of the existing home health agencies; the results of patient surveys conducted
  by the home health agencies; data pertaining to federal and State surveys; scoring
  by any national accrediting organization; charitable and subsidized programs and services
  for uninsured individuals or individuals with low income in their respective communities;
  copies of audited financial statements and annual cost reports; and any other quality
  measures or data deemed relevant by the Commissioner to monitor and evaluate access
  to and the cost and quality of home health services by the designated home health
  agencies. (c) The Commissioner shall consider the data collected under subsection (b) of this section
  in undertaking active, ongoing supervision to monitor performance of the designated
  home health agencies with respect to access, cost, and quality of home health services. (d) If the Commissioner determines that a home health agency has failed to comply with
  any performance standards established by the Commissioner related to access, cost,
  or quality issues in any area of the State, or has violated a rule or provision of
  this subchapter, the Commissioner may investigate and enforce the provisions of this
  subchapter pursuant to the authority and procedures conferred upon the Commissioner
  under chapter 71 of this title as if the home health agency were a nursing home, except
  that the Commissioner shall adopt by rule penalties specific to home health agencies. (Added 2005, No. 57, § 8, eff. June 13, 2005; amended 2015, No. 11, § 39; 2021, No. 20, § 337; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 625, eff. July 1, 2022.)