Sec. 10.30.01.08. Affiliation Guidelines

A. To assure quality and continuity of patient care, formal affiliation agreements shall be negotiated as required in the standards and guidelines of the Commission. The affiliation agreement shall be constructed so no entity benefits financially.

B. Affiliation agreements shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the:

(1) Means by which patients may be transferred between the affiliated institutions for the purpose of providing dialysis, transplantation services, or other medical care;

(2) Conditions under which dialysis facilities, hospitals, and transplant centers agree to provide medical backup facility to assure optimal patient care;

(3) Mechanisms for assuring quality of care including provisions for consultative help and review of patient progress;

(4) Provisions of or referral to a certified home dialysis training program with specific mechanisms for ensuring adequate supervision and assistance for patients on home dialysis; and

(5) Specific provisions by hospitals to end-stage renal disease patients for dialysis services as well as adequate:

(a) Laboratory services;

(b) Social services; and

(c) Dietetic services;

C. The primary dialysis facility shall review and revise the affiliation agreements periodically and if a change in ownership or other details of operation change during the period while the affiliation agreement is in force.