A unified voice for affordable, accessible, quality home care and hospice services.

Code of Ethics

Preamble

The Home Care & Hospice Alliance of Maine was founded in 1969 with the intention of encouraging the development and the delivery of the highest quality of medical, social and supportive services to the aged, infirm and disabled.

In the process of providing these essential services, the Alliance and its members seek to establish and retain the highest possible level of public confidence.

This Code of Ethics serves to inform members and the general public as to what are acceptable areas for ethical conduct for home care and hospice agencies and their employees.

It is inherent in this Code of Ethics that the Alliance and its members protect and preserve the basic rights of their patients and deal with them in an honest and ethical manner.

Responsibility to the Home Care & Hospice Alliance of Maine

In terms of the member responsibilities to the Home Care & Hospice Alliance of Maine, the following apply:

1. The bylaws and policies of the Alliance reflect mutual cooperation among members in attaining goals that assure quality care for the patient and family. The members of the Alliance shall abide by those bylaws and policies.
2. Members shall promptly pay all dues based on the actual revenues received from all home care and/or hospice activities for the previous year.
3. Members shall participate and contribute to the Alliance to foster a dynamic, progressive organization from which all members benefit professionally.
4. Members of the Board of Directors shall annually receive, sign and abide by the Conflict of Interest Policy.

The following are suggested areas for provider members to address as appropriate:

• Patient Rights and Responsibilities
• Relationships to Other Provider Agencies
• Fiscal Responsibilities
• Marketing and Public Relations
• Quality Assurance
• Personnel
• Violations and Hearing Process

Finally, the Code of Ethics serves as notice to government officials that the Alliance expects its members to abide by all applicable laws and regulations. It is a precondition of membership and failure to comply will result in expulsion from membership in the Alliance in addition to other penalties as prescribed by law.

This Code of Ethics, adopted by the Alliance Board of Directors on January 28, 2010, serves as a statement to the general public that the Alliance and its individual members stand for integrity and the highest ethical standards.