(20 ILCS 2405/17.1)

Sec. 17.1. Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Home care consumer" or "consumer" means a person aged 60 or older or a person with disabilities aged 18 through 59 who receives services in his or her home or community to promote independence and reduce the necessity for residence in a long-term care facility. These services may include the following:

(1) Home care services provided under this Act, the Medicare program under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Medicaid program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, or any other program funded by public or private moneys.

(2) Home care services determined to be appropriate by the Department.

"Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights" means, at a minimum, the rights set forth in subsections (b) through (g) and, in addition, any other rights established under subsection (h).

"Home care services" or "services" means home and community-based services to promote independence and reduce the necessity for residence in a long-term care facility, including personal care services designed to assist an individual in the activities of daily living such as bathing, exercising, personal grooming, and getting in and out of bed.

(b) Home care consumer's right to basic safety.

(1) A home care consumer has the right to be protected from physical, sexual, mental, and verbal abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including financial exploitation.

(2) A home care consumer has the right to be served by providers who are properly trained and are providing home care services within their scope of practice and the scope of their certification or licensure by the State.

(3) A provider of home care services shall maintain the confidentiality of all personal, financial, and medical information of the home care consumers to whom it provides services.

(4) A provider of home care services shall respect the personal property of the home care consumers to whom it provides services. If a consumer reports a theft or loss of personal property, the provider shall investigate and shall report back to the consumer the results of the investigation.

(c) Home care consumer's right to information.

(1) A home care consumer has the right to be informed of the following by a provider of home care services within 2 weeks after starting to receive home care services:

(A) His or her rights under this Section.

(B) The entities the home care consumer may contact if his or her rights are violated, including the name and contact information for the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging and other State and local agencies responsible for enforcing the Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights.

(2) A home care consumer has the right to:

(A) be informed of (i) the cost of home care services prior to receiving those services, (ii) whether the cost of those services is covered under health insurance, long-term care insurance, or other private or public programs, and (iii) any charges the consumer will be expected to pay; and

(B) be given advance notice of any changes to those costs or services.

(3) A home care consumer has the right to access information about the availability of the home care services provided in his or her community and has the right to choose among home care services and providers of home care services available in that community.

(d) Home care consumer's right to choice, participation, and self-determination.

(1) A home care consumer has the right to participate in the planning of his or her home care services, including making choices about aspects of his or her care and services that are important to him or her, choosing providers and schedules to the extent practicable, receiving reasonable accommodation of his or her needs and preferences, and involving anyone he or she chooses to participate with him or her in that planning.

(2) A home care consumer has the right to be provided with sufficient information to make informed decisions, to be fully informed in advance about any proposed changes in care and services, and to be involved in the decision-making process regarding those changes.

(3) A home care consumer may refuse services and has the right to receive an explanation of the consequences of doing so.

(e) Home care consumer's right to dignity and individuality. A home care consumer has the right to receive care and services provided in a way that promotes his or her dignity and individuality.

(f) Home care consumer's right to redress grievances.

(1) A home care consumer has the right to express grievances about the quality of his or her home care services, the number of hours of service, and any violations of his or her rights under this Section. A home care consumer has the right to receive prompt responses to those concerns and to be informed about the entities the consumer may contact to state those grievances in order to have the grievances addressed in an appropriate and timely manner and without retaliation.

(2) A home care consumer has the right to assert his or her rights under this Section without retaliation.

(g) Home care consumer's right to fiduciary assistance. A home care consumer has the right to a fiduciary's assistance in securing the consumer's rights under this Section.

(h) Other rights. The Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights may include any other rights determined to be appropriate by the Department.

(i) The Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging shall develop a plan for enforcing the Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights. In developing the plan, the Departments shall establish and take into account best practices for enforcement of those rights. The Departments shall make those best practices available to the public through their official web sites. The plan shall include a description of how entities with a role in protecting older adults aged 60 or older and persons with disabilities aged 18 through 59, such as home care services licensing agencies, adult protective services agencies, the Office of State Long Term Care Ombudsman, local law enforcement agencies, and other entities determined to be appropriate by the Departments, will coordinate activities to enforce the Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights.

(Source: P.A. 98-935, eff. 8-15-14.)