32.1-162.5 - Regulations.
§ 32.1-162.5. Regulations.
The Board shall prescribe such regulations governing the activities andservices provided by hospices as may be necessary to protect the publichealth, safety and welfare. Such regulations shall include, but not belimited to, the requirements for: the qualifications and supervision oflicensed and nonlicensed personnel; the standards for the care, treatment,health, safety, welfare, and comfort of patients and their families served bythe program; the management, operation, staffing and equipping of the hospiceprogram or hospice facility; clinical and business records kept by thehospice or hospice facility; and procedures for the review of utilization andquality of care. To avoid duplication in regulations, the Board shallincorporate regulations applicable to facilities licensed as hospitals ornursing homes under § 32.1-123 et seq. and to organizations licensed as homehealth agencies under Article 7.1 (§ 32.1-162.7 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of thistitle which are also applicable to hospice programs in the regulations togovern hospices. A person who seeks a license to establish or operate ahospice and who has a preexisting valid license to operate a hospital,nursing home or home health agency shall be considered in compliance withthose regulations which are applicable to both a hospice and the facility forwhich it has a license.
Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, regulations forhospice facilities shall include minimum standards for design andconstruction consistent with the Hospice Care section of the current editionof the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilitiesissued by the American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture forHealth.
(1981, c. 346; 2007, c. 397.)