Which term refers to the internal guidelines governing agency operations?

• A. Agency Policy
• B. Start of Care Visit
• C. Medicare Home Health Benefit
• D. Documentation Requirement

Answer: (A)

Agency policy are the internal guidelines that govern how an agency operates, shaping procedures, standards, and expectations for staff, patient care, safety, privacy, and compliance. These policies provide the framework that ensures consistent practice across the agency and alignment with applicable laws and payer rules. The start of care visit is a specific patient assessment conducted at the beginning of services, not the governing rules of the organization. The Medicare Home Health Benefit is the federal program that pays for services, not the agency’s internal rules. Documentation requirements specify what must be recorded, which can be covered by policies but do not by themselves describe the overall governance of the agency.