(1) The board has the following powers and duties:
To adopt rules defining standards of nursing home administration, including the responsibilities and duties of nursing home administrators, consistent with this article 265. The standards established in the rules shall be met by individuals in order to receive and retain a license and shall be designed to ensure that nursing home administrators are qualified by education and training in the appropriate field to serve as nursing home administrators.
To develop and apply appropriate techniques, including examinations and investigations, for determining whether an individual meets the standards adopted under subsection (1)(a) of this section;
To issue licenses to individuals determined, after application of the techniques, tomeet the standards specified in subsection (1)(a) of this section;
To take disciplinary action against a licensee in accordance with section 12-20-404 or place a temporary license holder on probation in any case where the individual holding any such license is determined to have failed to conform to the standards developed pursuant to subsection (1)(a) of this section or to have committed an act that constitutes grounds for discipline as set forth in section 12-265-113;
To establish and carry out procedures designed to ensure that individuals licensed asnursing home administrators will, during any period that they serve as such, comply with the requirements of the standards specified in subsection (1)(a) of this section;
(I) To conduct investigations, hold hearings, and take evidence in accordance withsection 12-20-403.
(II) A person providing documents subpoenaed pursuant to section 12-20-403 (2) shall prepare them from the original record and shall delete from the copy provided pursuant to the subpoena the name of the resident, but shall identify the resident by a numbered code, to be retained by the custodian of the records from which the copies were made. Upon certification of the custodian that the copies are true and complete except for the resident's name, they shall be deemed authentic, subject to the right to inspect the originals for the limited purpose of ascertaining the accuracy of the copies. No privilege of confidentiality shall exist with respect to the copies, and no liability shall lie against the board, the custodian, or the custodian's authorized employee for furnishing or using the copies in accordance with this subsection (1).
(2) (a) The board shall develop rules, with input from long-term care facility provider associations, the department of public health and environment, the office of the state attorney general, and consumer representatives, concerning factors to be considered in determining performance that fails to meet generally accepted standards for nursing home administrators and whether or not remedial or disciplinary actions are warranted. The board may create an advisory committee to assist the board in developing standards that describe the responsibilities and duties of nursing home administrators.
(b) If, after an investigation, the board determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the performance of a licensed administrator is inconsistent with the health or safety of residents in the care of the facility in which the administrator works and is contrary to standards adopted by the board, the board may initiate disciplinary action as may be warranted.
The board shall have the authority to make rules pursuant to section 12-20-204 and totake such other actions as may be necessary to enable the state to meet the requirements set forth in section 1908 of the federal "Social Security Act", the federal regulations promulgated thereunder, and other pertinent federal requirements.
The board shall promulgate rules defining the criteria for the education and experience necessary for admittance to the administrator-in-training program. The board shall furnish copies of the appropriate rules to members of the public upon request. The criteria for the education and experience necessary for admittance to the administrator-in-training program shall not exceed successful completion of two years of college level study in an accredited institution of higher education in areas relating to health care or two years of board-approved experience in nursing home administration or comparable health management experience for each year of required education.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1379, § 1, effective October 1.
Editor's note: Subsection (1) is similar to former § 12-39-105 (1); subsection (2) is similar to former § 12-39-105 (3); subsection (3) is similar to former § 12-39-105 (4); and subsection (4) is similar to former § 12-39-107.5, as those sections existed prior to 2019.