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Virginia Association for
HomeCare &Hospice
Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics
Preamble: The Virginia Association for Home Care and Hospice (VAHC) was founded by members who encouraged
the development and delivery of high quality, fairly priced home care & hospice services throughout Virginia. In meeting
this goal, the association membership seeks to establish and retain the highest possible level of public confidence. With
this in mind, the Board of Directors has adopted this Code of Ethics to govern the conduct of business by the association
and its members. The standards set forth in the code serve as a statement to the general public and to governmental
agencies that the association and its individual members stand for integrity, and strive to maintain the highest ethical
standards. The Code of Ethics is intended to inform members and the general public of the acceptable guidelines of
ethical conduct for home care agencies. It is a condition of participation in the association that members abide by the
Code of Ethics or risk expulsion.
The Code of Ethics, adopted by the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association for Home Care
and Hospice, consists of the following principles:
1. Members will assure that the patient/client receives
appropriate quality care. Each patient/client is to
be treated with courtesy, respect and regard for
privacy. Patient/clients have the right to be informed
concerning their care and have the right to participate
in planning the care they receive. Each member
shall be responsible for developing, adopting, and
observing Patient/Client Rights and Responsibilities
in order to establish and maintain lawful and effective
patient/client care and satisfaction. Each member will
ensure quality by complying with accepted standards
of professional practice.
2. Members will place the well-being of the patient/
client above individual member gains. In this regard,
members shall collaborate to assure comprehensive
services to patient/clients and will honestly and
conscientiously cooperate to assure the patient/
client’s best interest. Members shall refrain from
inducing or coercing employees, physicians, other
health care providers or businesses in an effort to refer
patient/clients to the member for provision of health
care services or goods. Members shall refrain from
inducing, persuading or coercing a patient/client to
change home care providers.
3. Members or hospice will provide human resource
management to ensure qualified staff. Each member
will provide human resource management and
supervision to ensure that qualified staff render
competent and comprehensive patient/client care.
4. Members will conduct business in accordance with
fair business practices and accepted industry and
regulatory standards and guidelines. Each member will
issue oral and written statements or bills to the public,
patient/clients, and other health care providers honestly
and accurately represent the value of goods and
services rendered.
5. Members will promote home care & hospice services
in a manner that demonstrates a positive image of
the industry.
6. Each member shall abide by all applicable federal and
state laws, rules and regulations.
7. Each Medicare certified agency member will comply
with Medicare guidelines prohibiting fraudulent and
abusive practices.
8. Members shall not engage in kick-backs, pay-offs, or
other types of fraud or abuse.
9. Members will promote VAHC’s mission in a positive
and ethical manner.
Adopted by Board of Directors 10/20/98
