A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to conditions of participation of home health agencies under the medicare program.

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to define terms and establish personnel qualifications pertaining to home health agencies. Sets forth the following conditions of participation by a home health agency in the Medicare program: (1) that the agency and its staff comply with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations; (2) that organization, services provided, administrative control, and lines of authority for the delegation of responsibility down to the patient care level be clearly set forth in writing and readily identifiable; (3) that a group of professional advisory committee representatives of the service provided by the agency establish, annually review, and make recommendations to the agency's governing board concerning the agency's policies governing the scope of services offered, admission and discharge policies, medical supervision and plans of treatment, emergency care, clinical records, personnel qualifications, and program evaluation; (4) that the agency have written policies requiring an overall evaluation of the agency's total program annually by the group of professional personnel, home health agency staff, and consumers, or by professional people outside the agency working in conjunction with consumers; (5) that patients be accepted for treatment on the basis of a reasonable expectation that the patients' medical, nursing, and social needs can be met adequately by the agency in the patients' place of residence; (6) that care follow a written plan of treatment established and periodically reviewed by a physician; (7) that the agency provide, skilled nursing services, by or under the supervision of a registered nurse and in accordance with the plan of treatment; (8) that any therapy services offered by an agency be given by a qualified therapist or therapist assistant under the supervision of a qualified therapist in accordance with the plan of treatment; (9) that medical social services, when provided, must be given by a qualified social worker or social worker assistant under the supervision of a qualified social worker and in accordance with the plan of treatment; (10) that home health aides be selected pursuant to standards set forth in this Act, and be closely supervised to assure their competence; and (11) that a clinical record written by the individuals who provide services and containing pertinent and current findings in accordance with accepted professional standards be maintained for every patient.