530.002 Section Expectations and Provider Rights Regarding the Delivery of Client Service
| Policy Number | 530.002 |
| Effective Date | June 3, 1998 |
| Revision Date | September 7, 2001 |
| Approval Authority | TB/HIV/STD Section Director |
1.0 Purpose
This policy clarifies the rights of a Contractor/Subcontractor (Provider) in responding to unacceptable client behavior while providing HIV/STD prevention, treatment, and social services under a contract with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), TB/HIV/STD Section (Section). Providers reviewing this policy should be able to identify unacceptable client behavior and respond accordingly with reasonable confidence that the actions taken on behalf of the provider agency regarding a client were appropriate. The policy will also outline what the Section expects from the Provider in delivering client services.
2.0 Background
One part of the Section's mission is to provide a wide array of services to persons who have the HIV disease or other STDs. That mission is achieved through contracts with various Providers who deliver those services. The Section is responsible for making sure that Providers understand their rights when addressing client behaviors that may be questionable or disruptive. The Provider will, therefore, be able to ensure that services are offered in a manner that is free from disruption. In addition, the Section also has certain expectations of how those services are to be delivered to clients and how client rights are to be respected.
3.0 Authority
Civil Rights Code, Title 42, Chapter 21; Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sect. 794; Age Discrimination Act of 1974; Public Law 88-352; Title VI, and Part 80 of 45 CFR; 25 TAC §§98.41-98.44.
4.0 Definitions as Applied to this Policy
Contractor - a legal entity under contract with DSHS to provide goods or services to people who are infected or affected by HIV, AIDS or STDs, or to implement goals supporting the Section's mission.
Provider - a person, agency, or facility approved by the DSHS that has entered into a contract with DSHS, or with a DSHS contractor, to deliver state or federal HIV/STD programs to clients.
Services - program activities offered by a Provider on behalf of the Section for prevention, health, medical, and social services.
5.0 Section Expectations Regarding the Provider/Client Relationship
The Section expects the Provider to maintain client relations of the highest possible quality.
5.1 General Section expectations
- Treat each client with respect, consideration and recognition of the client's dignity and individuality.
- Communicate the need for treatment, care, or services in a culturally sensitive manner.
- Allow the client to select comprehensive outpatient health and psychosocial support service or to refuse any service without fear of reprisal.
- Inform the client about treatment or service options, emphasize that it is the client’s right to pick an option, and advise the client of several of the alternatives when multiple providers are available for the same service.
- Assure that service planning, medical treatment and/or counseling plans are determined in cooperation with the client.
- Maintain a climate in the office or other service delivery setting that is free of physical or mental abuse or exploitation.
- Enforce local, state or federal laws or regulations (such as no smoking or maintaining a drug-free environment) required to conduct business.
- Review any decision to modify, suspend, or terminate services.
- Re-evaluate any modification, suspension, or termination to determine if the client’s situation has changed.
- Give clients an avenue to formally complain about treatment and/or services and the Provider’s decision to deny an application, modify, suspend, or terminate client benefits, a mechanism to receive an appropriate and fair review of the complaint, and ensure that there is no reprisal of any type against the client for filing the complaint or grievance.
5.2 Confidentiality
The Provider is required to maintain the confidentiality of all information according to state and federal laws. The right to confidentiality begins at the time the client applies for services, at the time the Provider first conducts an evaluation, or when counseling begins.
5.3 Equal access to programs and services
The Provider is required to consider client eligibility regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnic origin, physical challenge or religious practice. Conversely, the client has a right to refuse any recommended services.
5.4 Impartial treatment
Providers must allow the client to make application for any service and/or program. The client must be given fair, impartial treatment in the receipt and processing of the application and in the receipt of services.
5.5 Filing a complaint or grievance
Contractors are required to have a written client complaint procedure in place to meet the minimum requirements for client complaints.
All clients have a right to file a complaint or grievance regarding inappropriate Provider behavior, actions, or perceptions of discrimination. The complaint may be filed in accordance with the grievance procedures of the Provider or with the local organization responsible for monitoring the Provider. When all other sources have been exhausted, the client may file the complaint or grievance with the Section by calling 1-512-533-3000.
In the case of a complaint related to the delivery of clinical services, the client may file a complaint directly to the Section without filing a complaint locally if the client so chooses. The Section will investigate all complaints in accordance with HIV/STD Policy 020.050, "Public Complaints and Allegations Related to the Delivery of HIV or STD Programs."
6.0 General Provider Rights When Dealing With a Client
Each Provider should develop written procedures to deal with clients who may be disruptive or uncooperative. It is the responsibility of the Provider to ensure that staff are well informed about the procedures, and use the procedures consistently in every situation. Providers are expected to use good judgment and attempt to resolve these situations as fairly as possible without undue limitation or denial of client services.
7.0 Modifying, Suspending, or Terminating Client Services
The Provider is responsible for providing a work environment that remains free from undue disruption, turmoil, or interference. Whenever possible, the Provider should take steps to serve clients in a manner that supports a healthy work environment.
During the course of serving clients, clients may behave in a disruptive, abusive, or threatening manner toward staff or other clients. When this type of behavior occurs, the Provider may take the following progressive action:
- Modify all or part of the services provided to the client
- Suspend all or part of the services provided to the client
- Terminate all or part of the services provided to the client
Depending on the severity of the client’s behavior, such as the client threatening the life of staff or other clients, the Provider may skip one or more of the above steps and take appropriate action. Refer to HIV/STD Policy No. 530.003 for information on dealing with clients who threaten to harm themselves or others.
7.1 Modifying client services
The Provider may modify all or part of the services provided to the client in situations where the client is disruptive or uncooperative. Modification may include, but is not limited to:
- rescheduling the client’s appointment for a time later that day or in the near future,
- arranging client services by telephone, and/or
- mailing food vouchers, bus passes, etc.
7.2 Suspending client services
Suspension is the temporary withdrawal of a service or services provided to a client by a Provider. It may be necessary for the Provider to suspend all or part of the services provided to the client for a specific time period when alternative service delivery methods have not produced appropriate client behavior (i.e., the client is repeatedly disruptive or abusive towards staff or other clients).
7.3 Terminating client services
The Provider may choose to terminate all or part of the services provided to the client when alternative services delivery methods are not appropriate to the situation (i.e., the client threatens injury or homicide to a staff member or another client, etc.) or when modification or suspension of services has not produced appropriate client behavior.
Clinical service providers (e.g., physicians, advanced practitioners, and registered nurses) who terminate services should follow professional practice standards with regard to how client services are terminated. Professional organizations and/or licensing bodies can provide guidance to clinical service providers for managing these situations.
7.4 Denying, suspending, or terminating a client’s service on the basis of substance abuse
The Provider may not deny, suspend, or terminate any service funded through DSHS because the client is suspected of substance abuse or refuses to accept treatment for substance abuse. Refer to the Housing Opportunities to Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program Manual or the HIV/STD Health Resources Division, Field Operations Branch for information regarding HOPWA assistance and substance abuse.
Exceptions to this may occur in the course of delivering medical care when a client's active substance abuse contraindicates the prescription of certain medications and/or treatments.
These professional decisions must be evaluated by the treating clinician on a case-by-case basis.
7.5 Notification of the decision to modify, suspend, or terminate client services
The decision to modify, suspend, or terminate services must be communicated to the client in a timely and appropriate manner which may be done by any verifiable method, such as in person or by certified letter. When services are to be modified or suspended, staff should establish and communicate a specific time period for the suspension and inform the client that resumption of services will depend on the client’s willingness and ability to meet certain behavior expectations. The behavior expectations should be clearly outlined and communicated to the client. The client should be given information about alternative methods by which services will be delivered or where such assistance may be obtained.
7.6 Documentation
The Provider should ensure that all actions regarding modification, suspension, and termination are clearly documented in the client’s record.
7.7 Technical assistance
When desired, the Provider may contact the Section to discuss specific situations or to obtain technical assistance. Decisions regarding whether to modify, suspend, or terminate client services remain with the Provider.
7.8 Section review of decisions to modify, suspend, or terminate client services
As part of a routine review of the quality of client services or a complaint investigation, Section staff may review the events which led to a modification, suspension or termination of client services. Section staff will evaluate, at minimum, whether the Provider:
- followed their internal policies and those of the Section in taking action to resolve the situation;
- respected client rights; and
- applied the least restrictive limitation on client services necessary to maintain a service delivery setting that is free of physical and/or mental abuse or exploitation.
8.0 Revision History
| Date | Action | Section |
|---|---|---|
| 9/1/2017 | Changed "TB/HIV/STD Unit" to "TB/HIV/STD Section" to reflect new program designation | - |
| 9/17/2014 | Converted format (Word to HTML) | - |
| 11/13/2002 | Converted format (WordPerfect to Word) | - |
| 9/7/2001 | Numerous changes | All |