471 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 36, § 002 - DEFINITIONS

Assisted living facility means a facility licensed as an assisted living facility by the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

Attending physician means physician named by the client/representative in the hospice records. The attending physician has primary responsibility for the client's care and treatment.

Caregiver means a friend, family member, or legal guardian who provides ongoing care for an individual who is unable to care for him/herself.

Center for developmental disabilities means a facility, including a group home, where shelter, food, and care, advice, counseling, diagnosis, treatment, or related services are provided for a period of more than twenty-four consecutive hours to four or more persons residing at such facility who have developmental disabilities.

Client representative means a person who is, because of the client's mental or physical incapacity authorized in accordance with state law to execute decisions about hospice services or terminate medical care on behalf of the terminally ill client.

CMS means the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Home health aide means a person who is employed by a hospice to provide personal care, assistance with activities of daily living, and basic therapeutic care to the clients of the hospice.

Homemaker means person employed by, or a volunteer of, a hospice to provide domestic services including, but not limited to, meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, errands, and chore services as defined by hospice policy.

Hospice or hospice service means a person or legal entity which provides home care, palliative care, or other supportive services to terminally ill persons and their families.

Hospice client means a client who is diagnosed as terminally ill with a medical prognosis that his or her life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its normal course and who with informed consent is admitted into a hospice program.

Hospice inpatient facility means a facility in which the hospice provides inpatient care directly for respite and general inpatient care.

Hospice interdisciplinary team means the attending physician, hospice medical director, licensed professional registered nurse, certified social worker, pastoral or other counselor, and, as determined by the interdisciplinary plan of care, providers of special services such as counseling services, pharmacy services, home health aides, trained volunteers, dietary services, and any other appropriate health services, to meet the physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and economic needs which are experienced during the final stages of illness, dying, and bereavement.

Hospice volunteer means an individual specifically trained and supervised to provide support and supportive services to the hospice client and hospice client's family under the supervision of a designated hospice volunteer coordinator. This does not apply to any volunteers working on behalf of a hospice licensed under the Health Care Facility Licensure Act who, as part of their volunteer duties, provide care.

Institution for mental diseases means a hospital, nursing facility, or other institution of more than 16 beds that is primarily engaged in providing diagnosis, treatment, or care of persons with mental diseases, including medical attention, nursing care and related services. Whether an institution is an institution for mental diseases is determined by its overall character as that of a facility established and maintained primarily for the care and treatment of individuals with mental diseases, whether or not it is licensed as such. An institution for the mentally retarded is not an institution for mental diseases.

Intermediate care facility for mentally retarded means a facility, licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure and certified to participate in Medicaid, where shelter, food, and training or habilitation services, advice, counseling, diagnosis, treatment, care, nursing care, or related services are provided for a period of more than twenty-four consecutive hours to four or more persons residing at such facility who have mental retardation or related conditions, including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disabilities.

Licensed medical nutrition therapist means a person who is licensed to practice medical nutrition therapy pursuant to the Uniform Licensing Law and who holds a current license issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-1813.

Licensed nurse means a person licensed as a Registered Nurse or as a Practical Nurse under the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-2201 to 38-2236.

Medicaid means the Nebraska Medical Assistance Program established by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 68-903 and Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Medicaid representative means the client's services coordinator or case manager.

Medical director means a hospice employee or contracted person who is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who is responsible for the overall coordination of medical care in the hospice.

Medication means any prescription or non-prescription drug or biological intended for treatment or prevention of disease or to effect body functions in humans.

Nursing facility means a facility or a distinct part of a facility, licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure and certified for participation in the Medicaid program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, where medical care, rehabilitation, or related services and associated treatment are provided for a period of more than 24 consecutive hours to persons residing at such facility who are ill, injured, or disabled.

Palliative care means treatment directed at controlling pain, relieving other physical and emotional symptoms, and focusing on the special needs of the client and the client's family as they experience the dying process rather than treatment aimed at a cure or prolongation of life.

Physician means any person licensed to practice medicine as provided in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-2001 to 38-2062..

Social worker, certified means a person who has received a baccalaureate or masters degree in social work from an approved educational program and holds a current certificate issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

Terminal illness means that the client is diagnosed with a medical prognosis that his/her life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.

Treatment means a therapy, modality, product, device, or other intervention used to maintain well being or to diagnose, assess, alleviate, or prevent a disability, injury, illness, disease or similar condition.

Volunteer services means services provided by unpaid persons that supplement other covered services. Services include but are not limited to caregiver relief, short-term client companionship or running errands.

Notes

471 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 36, § 002