[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 42, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 42CFR418.70]



[Page 919-920]

 

                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH

 

                    CHAPTER IV--CENTERS FOR MEDICARE

                          & MEDICAID SERVICES,

                        DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

                             HUMAN SERVICES

 

PART 418_HOSPICE CARE--Table of Contents

 

      Subpart C_Conditions of Participation_General Provisions and 

                             Administration

 

Sec. 418.70  Condition of participation--Volunteers.



    The hospice in accordance with the numerical standards, specified in 

paragraph (e) of this section, uses volunteers, in defined roles, under 

the supervision of a designated hospice employee.

    (a) Standard: Training. The hospice must provide appropriate 

orientation



[[Page 920]]



and training that is consistent with acceptable standards of hospice 

practice.

    (b) Standard: Role. Volunteers must be used in administrative or 

direct patient care roles.

    (c) Standard: Recruiting and retaining. The hospice must document 

active and ongoing efforts to recruit and retain volunteers.

    (d) Standard: Cost saving. The hospice must document the cost 

savings achieved through the use of volunteers. Documentation must 

include--

    (1) The identification of necessary positions which are occupied by 

volunteers;

    (2) The work time spent by volunteers occupying those positions; and

    (3) Estimates of the dollar costs which the hospice would have 

incurred if paid employees occupied the positions identified in 

paragraph (d)(1) for the amount of time specified in paragraph (d)(2).

    (e) Standard: Level of activity. A hospice must document and 

maintain a volunteer staff sufficient to provide administrative or 

direct patient care in an amount that, at a minimum, equals 5 percent of 

the total patient care hours of all paid hospice employees and contract 

staff. The hospice must document a continuing level of volunteer 

activity. Expansion of care and services achieved through the use of 

volunteers, including the type of services and the time worked, must be 

recorded.

    (f) Standard: Availability of clergy. The hospice must make 

reasonable efforts to arrange for visits of clergy and other members of 

religious organizations in the community to patients who request such 

visits and must advise patients of this opportunity.