How to Create a Home Health Care Agency Policy Manual

Home health care is a highly regulated industry. Business owners should be serious about developing sound policies for their organization. Having a plan is the first step in the process. Creating a home health care agency policy manual is challenging, but doable.Here are guidelines.

Instructions

1. Read the Conditions of Participation, HIM 11 and the Fiscal Intermediary Manual for home health. These books contain vital information that will be useful in creating a policy manual. Become very familiar with each of these to ensure success.

2. Purchase an already written manual from a reputable management consulting company. A pre-purchased policy manual will provide a sound outline. Integrate sections of the manuals discussed in Step 1 that are not addressed in the standard manual. Customize to the needs of the home health care agency.

3. Determine the state's rules and regulations. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal arm that governs home health agencies. Most states have a department of health and human services that offers additional state regulation for home health agencies. Find the state manual that covers home health services and incorporate any policies into the manual per state guidelines.

4. Share the policy manual with other industry professionals. Two heads are always better than one. Three or four heads will work as well. Get feedback from respected professionals and use it to tweak the manual.

5. Look for information from the advocacy group for home health care agencies. The National Association of Home Care will have detailed insight on policy manuals.