OSRAA Code of Ethics

Members are to protect and promote the needs and interest of the client which shall always be the primary driving factor for any referral made by the member. Member must make every effort to be well informed regarding the essential facts of housing options available in their market area.

Members, as a practice, will conduct a quality intake for each client to determine their specific needs based on their personal situation, social and care needs. A face to face and personal intake provides necessary insight to the Member when selecting care options to tour and personalizes this process with each client/family they serve. It is also the practice of Members to tour with client or client's representative whenever possible. Referrals are made only after the intake interview. Member shall not send referral notices out by fax, email or other means without an initial client intake interview.

Prior to recommending and touring any facility with the client or client's representative, Member will review any available state surveys, complaint files and/or enforcement actions. As a practice, Members will refer to options they have personally toured and researched.

Members are to be knowledgeable of the resources in their local communities. They are to have a depth of understanding of options they are referring to. This understanding and knowledge allows the Member to give personal guidance and to find the best options available to client. Member must stay within their area of understanding and not undertake to provide opinion if outside their field of expertise and experience and will refer to professionals with the appropriate experience and expertise.

Members will not engage in the practice of moving or relocating a previously placed client for additional economic gain nor may intentionally suggest a housing option with knowledge that it will not be a good fit with the expectation of a subsequent compensated move. Member must not be the initiator of a relocation. Relocation must be initiated by the family and/or facility after all parties have been unable to find a resolution and there is an agreement that relocation is in the best interest of the resident.

Members will inform client, if asked, why a particular place is not recommended, however, will not interfere with client's decision to move into an option not recommended.

Members will honor all state and federal Medicare/Medicaid policies at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health and hospice companies regarding vendor visitation, gifting and compensation for referrals. Members will not pay for nor compensate employees of these companies for referrals. Appreciation gifts are not to exceed $60/incident.

In accordance with state and federal laws, no fee of any kind can be charged or accepted for residents placed who are already approved or accepted into any state Medicaid program.

Some states may allow for receipt of a fee for assisting the family in researching and selecting an approved state Medicaid facility. This fee is paid by the family/client representative directly to the referral agency and does not involve funds of the client who is covered under the state Medicaid program. Members will understand and comply with their state and federal laws regarding fees for assisting Medicaid clients.

Members maintain professional and general liability insurance, minimally, in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence. Member will supply a copy of proof of insurance to OSRAA prior to approval of membership and at the time of annual renewal.

Members must disclose to their clients how they are compensated. Members will not use the amount of compensation as a basis for placement.

Members are required to recognize and report to appropriate authorities any witnessed incidents of elder abuse or suspected abuse. In addition, Members will report to licensing authorities when health or safety violations are realized by Member.

Member will not deny service to any person for reason of race, creed, color, sex, familial status, or national origin. Member shall not be party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons based on race, creed, color, sex, familial status or national origin. Member may limit services to persons over the age of 55.

Member will observe the By-Laws and Rules and Regulations established by OSRAA, in addition with all other statutory and regulatory requirements that apply by state and federal laws.

Consistent with commonly accepted collegial business practices, Members are strongly discouraged from working with a client whom Member knows to be working with another referral agency. However, should a client solicit Member's assistance where a prior referral agency relationship is known to exist, whenever possible Member will contact prior referral agency before accepting client, and mutually agree with prior referral agency how best to assist the client. This mutually agreed working relationship must be acceptable to the client, except as regards commission-sharing (which is between the Member and the prior referral agency). If the client decides to work with the Member and not with the prior referral agency, whenever possible Member or client will inform prior referral agency of this decision. Failure to adhere to this process may be handled through an OSRAA internal complaint to the Executive Board.

Member will not publicly discredit a competitor.

In the event of a dispute between companies regarding commission earned or to be earned in connection with a client, the companies shall make every attempt to work it out between themselves.