7 AAC 12 — Facilities and Local Units (Article 1 to 12)

(a) A frontier extended stay clinic must have ancillary services that include food, laundry, and housekeeping services in accordance with this section. (b) The clinic must maintain lavatories for handwashing, with hot and cold running water, soap, and disposable towels, convenien…

(a) A frontier extended stay clinic that dispenses drugs, chemicals, and biologicals must (1) employ a pharmacist on a regular or consultant basis; (2) procure and maintain a sufficient quantity of drugs, chemicals, and biologicals, consistent with the formulary developed and app…

(a) Radiology services furnished at a frontier extended stay clinic must be provided as direct services by clinic staff who have been trained, and are competent, in the proper and safe use of radiological equipment. (b) Radiological services may be performed only upon the order o…

A frontier extended stay clinic must have an approved laboratory and provide laboratory services essential to the immediate diagnosis and treatment of patients. The clinic must comply with the applicable requirements of 7 AAC 12.790 - 7 AAC 12.850. The services provided must at a…

(a) In addition to the applicable requirements of 7 AAC 12.770 (Medical Record Service), a frontier extended stay clinic must meet the requirements of this section. (b) The clinic must maintain its clinical record system in accordance with written policies and procedures, includi…

(a) A frontier extended stay clinic must provide emergency services necessary to meet the needs of its extended stay patients and outpatients. (b) Emergency services must be available 24 hours a day. (c) Equipment, supplies, drugs, chemicals, and biologicals used in treating emer…

(a) Any renovation, expansion, or new construction of a frontier extended stay clinic must comply with (1)AS 18.60.580-18.60.660; (2)AS 18.60.705-18.60.740; (3) the International Building Code, as adopted by reference in, and revised under, 13 AAC 50.020; and (4) the Internationa…

In 7 AAC 12.450 - 7 AAC 12.490, unless the context indicates otherwise, (1) "emergency medical technician" has the meaning given in AS 18.08.200; (2) "extended stay" means a stay of four hours or longer described in 7 AAC 12.450(a) (2); (3) "food" means a raw, cooked, or processe…

A public or private entity that is primarily engaged in the provision of skilled nursing care and therapeutic services, but not the treatment of mental illness, in a patient's home is a home health agency, and must comply with 7 AAC 12.500 - 7 AAC 12.590. Notes 7 AAC 12.500 Eff. …

(a) The department will survey each home health agency and each subunit of a home health agency at least annually to determine compliance with 7 AAC 12.500 - 7 AAC 12.590. (b) All records of a home health agency and its subunits must be available for inspection during regular bus…

(a) A home health agency must provide skilled nursing services and at least one of the following additional services: (1) physical therapy; (2) occupational therapy; (3) speech therapy; or (4) home health aide services. (b) A home health agency may provide additional services des…

(a) A home health agency must be organized under a governing body that assumes full legal authority and fiscal responsibility for the conduct of the agency. (b) The governing body shall (1) appoint a qualified administrator and regularly monitor the performance of the administrat…

(a) The governing body of a home health agency shall appoint a professional advisory committee that meets as frequently as needed to advise and monitor the agency and report its findings to the governing body. The committee must consist of (1) the agency administrator; (2) a phys…

(a) A home health agency shall describe in writing the services provided by the agency, who has administrative control over those services, and the lines of authority for the delegation of responsibility to the patient care level. Administrative and supervisory functions may not …

(a) A home health agency shall have a quality improvement program to assess the extent to which the agency's program is appropriate, effective, and efficient. The quality improvement program must include an analysis of: (1) a quarterly clinical record review; (2) quality indicato…

(a) A home health agency shall, in consultation with the patient and the patient's attending physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, develop a plan of care for each patient accepted by the agency. The plan of care must (1) be reviewed, as often as t…

A home health agency may accept a patient for treatment only if there is a reasonable expectation that the patient's needs will be met adequately by the home health agency in the patient's place of residence. A home health agency may not accept a patient for treatment if that pat…

Notes 7 AAC 12.515 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

The home health agency administrator shall designate a physician or registered nurse to serve as that agency's director of clinical services. The director of clinical services shall (1) supervise the agency's professional service providers; (2) be available at all times for consu…

(a) A home health agency shall furnish nursing services in accordance with a plan of care by or under the supervision of a registered nurse licensed under AS 08.68. A registered nurse employed by a home health agency shall (1) assure that patient care is coordinated between servi…

(a) If a home health agency provides home health aide services, those services must be provided(1) by a home health aide who (A) is a nurse aide certified by the Board of Nursing under AS 08.68.331-08.68.336; (B) does not appear in the registry of certified nurse aides under AS 0…

Notes 7 AAC 12.520 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

(a) Physical therapy services offered by a home health agency must be provided in accordance with a plan of care by or under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed under AS 08.84. A physical therapist employed by or on contract with a home health agency shall (1) evalua…

(a) If a home health agency offers medical social services, the services must be delivered in accordance with the patient's plan of care by, or under the supervision of, a social worker who has (1) a master's degree from a school of social work accredited by the National Council …

If a plan of care requires the consultation or direct services of a dietitian, the home health agency must ensure that those services are provided by a dietitian registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. A dietitian providing serv…

(a) A home health agency shall maintain a separate area for processing, decontamination, if necessary, and storage of sterile supplies and materials. (b) A home health agency shall develop and implement policies and procedures for (1) the cleaning, antimicrobial processing, and s…

(a) If a home health agency provides parenteral or hyperalimentation services, the agency shall (1) describe the scope of the services to be provided, including the population to be served; (2) develop a plan for emergency services to meet the scope of the services provided; and …

Notes 7 AAC 12.530 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

(a) A home health agency shall establish, implement, and make available to all personnel, written policies and procedures appropriate to the services offered by the agency. These policies and procedures must be reviewed at least annually and revised as necessary. (b) A home healt…

(a) The governing body of a home health agency shall protect and promote the rights of its home health patients, by assuring that (1) before services are provided, the patient and the patient's family are informed orally and in writing, in a language the patient and family unders…

Notes 7 AAC 12.535 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

(a) Before initiating care or services, a home health agency must provide each patient, 18 years of age or older, or their legal representatives, with forms and information on (1) the right of the individual to make health care decisions, including the right to (A) accept or refu…

Notes 7 AAC 12.540 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

(a) A home health agency shall develop and implement written policies and procedures that prohibit abuse, neglect, and mistreatment of patients. (b) An agency shall (1) screen a potential employee or contractor to prevent the employment of an individual who has been convicted of …

Notes 7 AAC 12.545 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

Notes 7 AAC 12.550 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

(a) If ordered by the patient's physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, a drug may be administered to a patient by an employee or a contractor of the home health agency who is authorized to administer drugs by law. (b) An employee or a contractor of…

Notes 7 AAC 12.555 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

If a home health agency uses its own equipment to monitor a patient's whole blood glucose levels, the agency must test and calibrate the machine according to the manufacturer's recommendations. If a patient has whole blood glucose equipment, the home health agency must teach the …

Notes 7 AAC 12.560 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

(a) A home health agency shall maintain a clinical record for each patient. The clinical record must be legible and maintained in accordance with accepted professional or occupational standards. The clinical record must be readily available upon the request of the (1) attending p…

(a) A home health agency may contract with another facility or agent to perform services or provide resources to the agency. The services provided under contract that are regulated under 7 AAC 12.500 - 7 AAC 12.590 must meet the requirements of this chapter. (b) A home health age…

(a) A home health agency shall have a risk management program that includes a procedure to investigate, analyze, and respond to patient grievances related to patient care. (b) A home health agency shall conduct, in each service area, an orientation program for each new employee a…

(a) A home health agency shall develop and implement written policies and procedures applicable to all agency staff that (1) minimize the risk of transmitting infection in all patient care or services; and (2) provide for the safe handling and disposal of biohazardous and infecti…

Notes 7 AAC 12.570 Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; repealed 9/6/96, Register 139 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be …

A home health agency shall have an employee health program that meets the requirements of 7 AAC 12.650. Notes 7 AAC 12.571 Eff. 9/6/96, Register 139; am 3/17/2022, Register 241, April 2022 Authority:AS 18.05.040 AS 47.32.010 AS 47.32.030 State regulations are updated quarterly; w…

In 7 AAC 12.500 - 7 AAC 12.590, unless the context requires otherwise, (1) "'abuse" means the infliction of physical pain or injury, the infliction of mental anguish that requires medical attention, or the deprivation by a caretaker of services that are necessary to maintain the …

(a) Unless indicated otherwise in this chapter, a facility required to be licensed under AS 47.32 and this chapter must comply with the provisions of 7 AAC 10.9500 - 7 AAC 10.9535 (General Variance Procedures), 7 AAC 10.9600 - 7 AAC 10.9620 (Inspections and Investigations), 7 AAC…

An entity listed in AS 47.32.0l0(b) that is required to be licensed under AS 47.32 and this chapter must also comply with the applicable requirements of AS 47.05.300 - 47.05.390 and 7 AAC 10.900 - 7 AAC 10.990 (barrier crimes and conditions; background checks. Notes 7 AAC 12.605 …

(a) Unless exempt under 7 AAC 12.611, before an individual or entity may operate a facility subject to AS 47.32 and this chapter, the individual or entity must obtain a license from the department under AS 47.32 and this section. The department may bring an action to enjoin the o…