North Dakota Century Code Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-17.4-07. Basic requirements for hospice program

1. The hospice program's services must include physician services, nursing services, medical social services, counseling, and volunteer services. The services must be coordinated with those of the hospice patient's primary or attending physician.

2. The hospice program must coordinate its services with professional and nonprofessional services already in the community. The hospice program may contract for elements of its services; however, direct patient contact and overall coordination of hospice services must be maintained by the hospice care team. Any contract entered into between a hospice program and a health care facility or service provider must specify that the hospice program retains the responsibility for planning and coordinating hospice services and care on behalf of a hospice patient and the hospice patient's family. No hospice which contracts for any hospice service may charge fees for services provided directly by the hospice care team which duplicate contractual services provided to the individual hospice patient or family.

3. The hospice care team is responsible for the coordination of home and inpatient care.

4. The hospice program must have a medical director who is a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 43-17. The medical director has overall responsibility for medical policy in relation to the care and treatment of hospice patients and their families rendered by the hospice care team and must consult and cooperate with the hospice patient's attending physician.

5. The hospice program must provide the services of a registered nurse, as defined under chapter 43-12.1, to supervise and coordinate the palliative and supportive care for patients and families provided by the hospice care team.

6. The hospice program must identify a member of the hospice team who will be responsible for providing for coordination and administration of the hospice service plan for patients and families.

7. The hospice program must have a bereavement program to provide a continuum of supportive services for the family.

8. The hospice program must foster independence of the hospice patient and the hospice patient's family by providing training, encouragement, and support so that the patient and family can care for themselves as much as possible.

9. The hospice program may not impose the dictates of any value or belief system on hospice patients or their families.

10. The hospice program must clearly define admission criteria. Decisions on admission must be made by a hospice care team and are dependent upon the expressed request of the patient; however, if the attending physician certifies that the patient is unable to request admission, a family member may voluntarily request and receive admission of the patient and family on the patient's behalf. Any request for admission must include written evidence of informed consent signed by the person making the request, which contains an explanation, in plain language of the nature and limitations of hospice care.

11. The hospice program must keep accurate, current, and confidential records on all hospice patients and their families. Upon reasonable notice, the records must be made available to duly authorized officers or employees of the department.

12. The hospice program must use the services of trained volunteers.

13. The hospice program must consist of both home care and inpatient care which incorporate the following characteristics: