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Compliance
Since its inception in 1970, Alacare Home Health & Hospice has demonstrated its commitment to ethical business behavior and compliance with the letter and spirit of ever-changing rules, regulations and laws.
In 1996, the company formalized these expectations in writing, and Alacare's Compliance and Ethics Program continues to evolve with changes in the home care and hospice industries. This Program includes attention to ethics and assures the public of Alacare's long-standing reputation for complying with state and federal laws in every activity.
Additionally, there is an auditing and monitoring system for key compliance risk areas to prevent errors. Citizens, patients, caregivers, referral sources, and employees may contact Alacare's Compliance Officer at 800-306-9165, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to request additional compliance information or to report concerns.
Code of Ethics and Ethics Committee
Ethical behavior is considered essential to the effectiveness of Alacare. Alacare provides its employees with written guidelines for compliance and ethics. Staff members are invited to contact the Compliance and Ethics Office with any relevant ethical concern or question. The Ethics Committee regularly meets to discuss and resolve general and specific ethical issues with input from administrators, clinicians and legal counsel.
Alacare Home Health & Hospice
Code of Ethics
Alacare Home Health & Hospice has established this Code of Ethics in recognition of our responsibility to our patients, staff and the communities we serve. It affirms Alacare's corporate policy of conducting business and operations in accordance with both the law and the highest standard of business ethics.
It is the responsibility of every Alacare Home Health & Hospice employee, independent contractors, vendor and others who render services for and/or on behalf of Alacare to act in a manner that is consistent with Alacare's Mission Statement and its supporting polices. Our performance is guided by the company's values that support and advance our mission. Our mission is to strive to consistently exceed our customers' expectations by maintaining an ethical, positive, efficient and financially sound workplace environment that allows our organization's caring, multi-skilled and empowered employees to provide high quality home based services through a system of clinically superior programs.
1. Alacare requires all employees' compliance with all laws and regulations to which it is subject. When the application of a law or regulation is uncertain, the guidance of the company's Compliance Officer and/or General Counsel shall be sought. Alacare requires independent contractors, vendor and others who render services for and/or on behalf of Alacare to affirm that their services will be provided in accordance with all laws and regulations.
2. Alacare's policy is to maintain contacts with governmental officials and other government personnel, whether directly or indirectly, as proper business relationships. Such contacts must never suggest undue influence or cast doubt on Alacare's integrity. Furthermore, Alacare is committed to ensuring the accuracy of all filings with the government.
3. Alacare maintains accurate and reliable corporate records which disclose all disbursements and other transactions to which Alacare is a party.
4. Alacare requires the undivided loyalty of its employees in the exercise of their responsibilities. Except as may be otherwise approved by the Board of Directors or an appropriate committee thereof, personal investments or other activities which may create a conflict of interest are prohibited, and circumstances which may give the appearance of a conflict of interest are to be avoided.
5. Alacare requires all employees, independent contractors, vendors and others who render services for and/or on behalf of Alacare to report wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing. Reports of wrongdoing may be orally to one's supervisor, through the Compliance Helpline (1-800-306-9165) or in writing. Reports of wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing may be made anonymously, however, such reports allow for limited feedback and follow up. All reports must be directed or forwarded to the Compliance Officer for appropriate follow up and investigation.
6. It is a violation of this Code for personnel not to report a violation of this Code or to fail to report any wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing.
7. It is our policy to promptly and thoroughly investigate reports of wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing or violations of this Code. Personnel must cooperate with these investigations. No reprisals or disciplinary action will be taken or permitted against personnel for good faith reporting of and/or cooperating in the investigation of illegal or suspected illegal acts or violations of this Code.
8. Personnel who violate the Code or commit illegal acts are subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.
9. Alacare conducts Ethics Committee Meetings to facilitate discussion of ethical questions; to furnish ethics educational resources; to educate staff, physicians, patients and caregivers about ethics; to provide advise, training and consultation to the staff on actual and potential questions of ethics; and to analyze specific ethical questions and assist in the resolutions.
The company's Board of Directors has adopted the foregoing Code of Ethics to apply to Alacare.
Susan B. BrouilletteSecretary of the Board
Alacare Home Health Services, Inc.I:\Legal\Private\Compliance Uploading\CODE_OF_ETHICS 2009.doc
