(a)    The Department shall adopt rules and regulations that set standards for the care, treatment, health, safety, welfare, and comfort of patients of home health agencies.

(b)    The rules and regulations shall provide for the licensing of home health agencies and shall establish standards that require as a minimum, that all home health agencies:

(1)    Within 10 days of acceptance of a patient for skilled care, make and record all reasonable efforts to contact a physician to obtain the signed order required under item (2) of this subsection;

(2)    That accept patients for skilled care do so only on the signed order of a physician obtained within 28 days after acceptance;

(3)    Adopt procedures for the administration of drugs and biologicals;

(4)    Maintain clinical records on all patients accepted for skilled care;

(5)    Establish patient care policies and personnel policies;

(6)    Have services available at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and available on an emergency basis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;

(7)    Make service available to an individual in need within 24 hours of a referral when stipulated by a physician’s order;

(8)    Have a designated supervisor of patient care who is a full–time employee of the agency and is available at all times during operating hours and additionally as needed; and

(9)    Have as the administrator of the agency a person who has at least 1 year of supervisory experience in hospital management, home health management, or public health program management and who is:

(i)    A licensed physician;

(ii)    A registered nurse; or

(iii)    A college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in a health–related field.

(c)    The rules and regulations may include provisions that:

(1)    Deal with the establishment of home health agencies;

(2)    Require each home health agency to have its policies established by a professional group that includes at least:

(i)    1 physician;

(ii)    1 registered nurse;

(iii)    1 representative of another offered service; and

(iv)    1 public member;

(3)    Govern the services provided by the home health agencies;

(4)    Require keeping clinical records of each patient, including the plan of treatment to be provided;

(5)    Govern supervision of the services, as appropriate, by:

(i)    A physician;

(ii)    A registered nurse; or

(iii)    Another health professional who is qualified sufficiently by advanced training to supervise the same kind of services in a hospital; and

(6)    Require submission of an annual report which includes service utilization statistics.

(d)    The provisions of this section do not waive the requirement for a home health agency to obtain a certificate of need.