Effective 28 Aug 1997

197.400. Definitions. — As used in sections 197.400 to 197.475, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms mean:

(1) "Council", the home health services advisory council created by sections 197.400 to 197.475;

(2) "Department", the department of health and senior services;

(3) "Home health agency", a public agency or private organization or a subdivision or subunit of an agency or organization that provides two or more home health services at the residence of a patient according to a physician's written and signed plan of treatment;

(4) "Home health services", any of the following items and services provided at the residence of the patient on a part-time or intermittent basis: nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, home health aid, or medical social service;

(5) "Part-time or intermittent basis", the providing of home health services in an interrupted interval sequence on the average of not to exceed three hours in any twenty-four-hour period;

(6) "Patient's residence", the actual place of residence of the person receiving home health services, including institutional residences as well as individual dwelling units;

(7) "Physician", a person licensed by the state board of registration for the healing arts pursuant to the provisions of chapter 334 to practice in this state as a physician and surgeon;

(8) "Plan of treatment", a plan reviewed and signed as often as medically necessary by a physician or podiatrist, not to exceed sixty days in duration, prescribing items and services for an individual patient's condition;

(9) "Podiatrist", a person licensed by the state board of podiatry pursuant to the provisions of chapter 330 to practice in this state as a podiatrist;

(10) "Subunit" or "subdivision", any organizational unit of a larger organization which can be clearly defined as a separate entity within the larger structure, which can meet all of the requirements of sections 197.400 to 197.475 independent of the larger organization, which can be held accountable for the care of patients it is serving, and which provides to all patients care and services meeting the standards and requirements of sections 197.400 to 197.475.

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(L. 1983 H.B. 51 § 1, A.L. 1997 H.B. 642)