6132 Home Care Ombudsman

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Aging Services
Access to Services Manual

Chapter:

6000 Community Transitions

Effective Date:

Section Title:

Home Care Ombudsman

Reviewed or Updated in:

MT 2016-02

Section Number:

6132

Previous Update:

Summary Statement

Home Care Ombudsman is an available service for Money Follows the Person (MFP) Participants during their 365-day participation period.

Basic Considerations

Georgia Home Care Ombudsmen (HCOs) provide services including (but not limited to) advocacy, rights education, and complaint resolution to MFP participants.

HCOs provide their service(s) according to the policies/procedures/processes developed by the State Long Term Care Ombudsman’s office.

HCOs are reimbursed for their services in accordance with the Policies and Procedures for Money Follows the Person (Manual), Appendix B, published by the Department of Community Health.

HCOs may recommend expenditure of MFP Transition Services in the course of their work.

Only Transition Coordinators may authorize MFP Transition Service expenditures. MFP Transition Services are requested by the MFP Participant and justified in the Individual Transition Plan.

Definitions

Home Care Ombudsman (HCO)

An individual, trained and certified by the Georgia State Long Term Care Ombudsman’s office, who provides Ombudsman services to MFP participants during their 365-day participation period.

AAA Procedures

  1. Authorizing Home Care Ombudsman Services

    Step 1

    MFP Field Staff explain the HCO service during the ITP meeting.
    Step 2

    MFP Participants authorize HCO services by initialing the service description on the ITP document. Participants may or may not choose to authorize the service, at their discretion.

  2. Referring Home Care Ombudsman Services

    Step 1

    MFP Field staff refer clients to HCO within 30 days of transition.
    Step 2

    TCs do not refer MFP Participants who reside in Personal Care Homes. These participants benefit from LTCO services.
    Step 3

    TCs submit a copy of the ITP to the HCO upon request (only for Participants who have chosen the HCO service).

  3. Responding to Home Care Ombudsman Recommendations

    Step 1

    TCs receive written recommendations from HCO.
    Step 2

    TCs verify recommendations with MFP Participant.
    Step 3

    TC responds to HCO within fourteen (14) calendar days as to next steps.
    Step 4

    TC apprises HCO of recommendation status upon request.

References

  1. Policies and Procedures for Money Follows the Person (MFP Manual), dch.georgia.gov/georgia-money-follows-person-ga-mfp

  2. Harmony for MFP User Guide v1.x, Section 1060 (MAN 5600), Appendix I