2015 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 63. Public Health and Safety
§63-1-1912. Notice of violation and right to hearing – Emergency orders - Appeal.

A. The State Department of Health shall promptly serve a notice of violation upon a licensee whenever, upon inspection or investigation, the Department determines that:

1. The facility is in violation of the Nursing Home Care Act, any rule promulgated thereunder, or applicable federal certification criteria; or

2. The financial condition of the facility poses an immediate risk to the proper operation of the facility or to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the facility.

B. Each notice of violation shall be prepared in writing and shall specify the nature of the violation, and the statutory provision, rule or standard alleged to have been violated. The notice of violation shall inform the licensee of its obligation to file a plan of correction within ten (10) working days of receipt of the notice of violation. In the case of a specialized facility for persons with mental retardation, the Department shall offer the licensee an informal opportunity comparable to the process offered to Medicaid-certified nursing facilities pursuant to 42 CFR 488.331, in order to dispute the alleged violations.

C. The Department shall notify the licensee of its intent to take any remedial action, impose administrative penalties, place a monitor or temporary manager in the facility, issue a conditional license, or suspend or revoke a license. The Department shall also inform the licensee of the right to an informal dispute resolution, hearing, or both.

D. Whenever the Department finds that an emergency exists requiring immediate action to protect the health, safety or welfare of any resident of a facility licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act, the Department may, without notice of hearing, issue an order stating the existence of such an emergency and requiring that action be taken as deemed necessary by the Department to meet the emergency. The order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such an order is directed shall comply with such order immediately but, upon application to the Department, shall be afforded a hearing within ten (10) business days of receipt of the application. On the basis of such hearing, the Department may continue the order in effect, revoke it, or modify it. Any person aggrieved by such order continued after the hearing provided in this subsection may appeal to the district court in Oklahoma County within thirty (30) days. Such appeal when docketed shall have priority over all cases pending on the docket, except criminal cases. For purposes of this subsection, the State Board of Health shall define by rule the term "emergency" to include, but not be limited to, a life-endangering situation.

E. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of a plan of correction by the State Department of Health from any facility operated by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, the State Department of Health shall submit the results of the inspection, including a list of deficiencies in the condition or operation of the facility and recommendations for corrective measures in the form of a written report to the person immediately responsible for the administration of the facility inspected, to the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, to the Governor, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

F. At the conclusion of an inspection, survey, or investigation, the survey team's observations and preliminary findings shall be discussed in an exit conference with the facility personnel. During the exit conference, the facility shall be provided with the opportunity to discuss and supply additional information that they believe is pertinent to the preliminary findings. The following shall be provided to the facility:

1. A written list containing preliminary areas of potential noncompliance with state requirements based on findings during the survey, inspection or investigation. The information provided should be adequate to notify staff of surveyor concerns regarding preliminary findings that indicate actual harm or substandard quality of care; and

2. Any additional noncompliance with state requirements determined during the review of field notes or in preparation of the final survey report will be communicated to the facility personnel by email or phone before issuing the final survey report.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 241, § 12, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 127, § 7, emerg. eff. April 29, 1991; Laws 1995, c. 230, § 12, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 2002, c. 230, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2005, c. 460, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2013, c. 379, § 3, emerg. eff. May 29, 2013; Laws 2014, c. 251, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.