Question

Your committee is charged with developing procedures for the Health Information Services staff of a new home health agency. You recommend that the staff routinely check to verify that a summary on each patient is provided to the attending physician so that he or she can review, update, and recertify the patient as appropriate. The time frame for requiring this summary is at least every:

A. week.
B. month.
C. 60 days.
D. 90 days.

Answer 1

Summaries for patients should be provided to their attending physician for review and recertification at least every 60 days, as this interval is commonly used in home health care settings per Medicare requirements.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asked about the time frame for providing a summary to the attending physician for review, update, and recertification of a patient in a new home health agency. Considering the practices in various health settings and regulations that commonly guide patient care and physician follow-ups, it is generally recommended that summaries be provided at regular intervals to ensure continuity of care and adherence to treatment plans. While there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer as regulations may vary by location and specific agency policies, Medicare, for example, requires that home health care patients be seen by a physician at least once every 60 days. Therefore, the most appropriate answer to the student's question would be at least every 60 days.