Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/Code.cfm?chap=16&art=5C
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 12:10:34+00:00

Document:
§16-5C-3. Powers, duties, and rights of secretary.
§16-5C-4. Administrative and inspection staff.
§16-5C-6. License required; application; fees; duration; renewal.
§16-5C-7. Cost disclosure; surety for resident funds.
§16-5C-10. Reports of inspections; plans of correction; assessment of penalties and use of funds derived therefrom; hearings.
§16-5C-11. License limitation, suspension, revocation; continuation of disciplinary proceedings; closure, transfer of residents, appointment of temporary management; assessment of interest; collection of assessments; promulgation of rules to conform with federal requirements; hearings.
§16-5C-12. Administrative appeals for civil assessments, license limitation, suspension or revocation.
§16-5C-12a. Independent informal dispute resolution.
§16-5C-14. Legal counsel and services for the director.
§16-5C-15. Unlawful acts; penalties; injunctions; private right of action.
§16-5C-16. Availability of reports and records.
§16-5C-17. Licenses and rules in force.
§16-5C-18. Separate accounts for residents' personal funds; consent for use; records; penalties.
§16-5C-19. Federal law; legislative rules.
§16-5C-20. Hospice palliative care required to be offered.
§16-5C-22. Jury trial waiver to be a separate document.
It is the policy of this state to encourage and promote the development and utilization of resources to ensure the effective and financially efficient care and treatment of persons who are convalescing or whose physical or mental condition requires them to receive a degree of nursing or related health care greater than that necessary for well individuals. Such care and treatment require a living environment for such persons which, to the extent practicable, will approximate a normal home environment. To this end, the guiding principle for administration of the laws of the state is that such persons shall be encouraged and assisted in securing necessary care and treatment in noninstitutional surroundings. In recognition that for many such persons effective care and treatment can only be secured from proprietary, voluntary and governmental nursing homes it is the policy of this state to encourage, promote and require the maintenance of nursing homes so as to ensure protection of the rights and dignity of those using the services of such facilities.
“Deficiency” means a nursing home’s failure to meet the requirements specified in §16-5C-1 et seq. of this code and rules promulgated thereunder.
“Immediate jeopardy” means a situation in which the nursing home’s noncompliance with one or more of the provisions of this article or rules promulgated thereunder has caused or is likely to cause serious harm, impairment or death to a resident.
Evaluating and improving the quality of health care rendered; reducing morbidity or mortality; or establishing and enforcing guidelines designed to keep within reasonable bounds the cost of health care.
(r) To establish a formal process for licensed facilities to file complaints about the inspection process or inspectors.
The director may, at such time or times as he or she may deem necessary, employ such administrative employees, inspectors, or other persons as may be necessary to properly carry out the provisions of this article. All employees of the department shall be members of the state civil service system and surveyors shall be trained to perform their assigned duties. Such inspectors and other employees as may be duly designated by the director shall act as the director's representatives and, under the direction of the director, shall enforce the provisions of this article and all duly promulgated regulations and, in the discharge of official duties, shall have the right of entry into any place maintained as a nursing home.
Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 62.
(11) Assurances that the nursing home is in compliance with the provisions of article two-d of this chapter.
(3) That the facility is in substantial compliance with standards established pursuant to section five of this article, and such other requirements for a license as may be established by rule under this article.
Any license granted by the director shall state the maximum bed capacity for which it is granted, the date the license was issued and the expiration date. Such licenses shall be issued for a period not to exceed fifteen months for nursing homes: Provided, That any license in effect for which timely application for renewal, together with payment of the proper fee has been made to the director in conformance with the provisions of this article and the rules issued thereunder, and prior to the expiration date of the license, shall continue in effect until: (A) Six months following the expiration date of the license; or (B) the date of the revocation or suspension of the license pursuant to the provisions of this article; or (C) the date of issuance of a new license, whichever date first occurs. Each license shall be issued only for the premises and persons named in the application and is not transferable or assignable: Provided, however, That in the case of the transfer of ownership of a facility with an unexpired license, the application by the proposed new owner shall be filed with the director no later than thirty days before the proposed date of transfer. Upon receipt of proof of the transfer of ownership, the application shall have the effect of a license for three months. The director shall issue or deny a license within three months of the receipt of the proof of the transfer of ownership. Every license shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the nursing home for which it is issued so as to be accessible to and in plain view of all residents of and visitors to the nursing home.
(3) If a nursing home is in compliance with the requirements of the health care facility financial disclosure act, as provided in article five-f, chapter sixteen of this code, it will be considered to have met the requirements established in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.
(4) A statement of any changes in the name, address, management or ownership information on file with the director. All holders of facility licenses as of the effective date of this article shall include, in the first application for renewal filed thereafter, such information as is required for initial applicants under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
(d) In the case of an application for a renewal license, if all requirements of section five of this article are not met, the director may at his or her discretion issue a provisional license, provided that care given in the nursing home is adequate for resident needs and the nursing home has demonstrated improvement and evidences potential for substantial compliance within the term of the license: Provided, That a provisional license may not be issued for a period greater than six months, may not be renewed, and may not be issued to any nursing home that is a poor performer.
(e) A nonrefundable application fee in the amount of $200 for an original nursing home license shall be paid at the time application is made for the license. Direct costs of initial licensure inspections or inspections for changes in licensed bed capacity shall be borne by the applicant and shall be received by the director prior to the issuance of an initial or amended license. The license fee for renewal of a license shall be at the rate of $15 per bed per year for nursing homes, except the annual rate per bed may be assessed for licenses issued for less than fifteen months. Annually, the director may adjust the licensure fees for inflation based upon the increase in the consumer price index during the last twelve months. All such license fees shall be due and payable to the director, annually, and in the manner set forth in the rules promulgated hereunder. The fee and application shall be submitted to the director who shall retain both the application and fee pending final action on the application. All fees received by the director under the provisions of this article shall be deposited in accordance with section thirteen, article one of this chapter.
(a) Each nursing home shall disclose in writing to all residents at the time of admission a complete and accurate list of all costs which may be incurred by them; and shall notify the residents thirty days in advance of changes in costs. The nursing home shall make available copies of the list in the nursing home's business office for inspection. Residents may not be liable for any cost not so disclosed.
(b) If the nursing home handles any money for residents within the facility, the licensee or his or her authorized representative shall either: (1) Give a bond; or (2) obtain and maintain commercial insurance with a company licensed in this state in an amount consistent with this subsection and with the surety as the director shall approve. The bond or insurance shall be upon condition that the licensee shall hold separately and in trust all residents' funds deposited with the licensee, shall administer the funds on behalf of the resident in the manner directed by the depositor, shall render a true and complete account to the depositor and the director when requested, and at least quarterly to the resident, and upon termination of the deposit, shall account for all funds received, expended, and held on hand. The licensee shall file a bond or obtain insurance in a sum at least one and twenty-five one-hundredths the average amount of funds deposited with the nursing home during the nursing home's previous fiscal year.
This insurance policy shall specifically designate the resident as the beneficiary or payee reimbursement of lost funds. Regardless of the type of coverage established by the facility, the facility shall reimburse, within thirty days, the resident for any losses directly and seek reimbursement through the bond or insurance itself. Whenever the director determines that the amount of any bond or insurance required pursuant to this subsection is insufficient to adequately protect the money of residents which is being handled, or whenever the amount of any such bond or insurance is impaired by any recovery against the bond or insurance, the director may require the licensee to file an additional bond or insurance in such amount as necessary to adequately protect the money of residents being handled.
The provisions of this subsection do not apply if the licensee handles less than $35 per resident per month in the aggregate.
(a) The director shall establish rules for prompt investigation of all complaints of alleged violations by nursing homes of applicable requirements of state law or rules, except for such complaints that the director determines are willfully intended to harass a licensee or are without any reasonable basis. Such procedures shall include provisions for ensuring the confidentiality of the complainant and for promptly informing the complainant and the nursing home involved of the results of the investigation.
(b) If, after its investigation, the director determines that the complaint has merit, the director shall take appropriate disciplinary action and shall advise any injured party of the possibility of a civil remedy.
(1) A nursing home or licensee adversely affected by an order or citation of a deficient practice issued pursuant to this section may request the independent informal dispute resolution process contained in section twelve-a of this article.
(2) No later than twenty working days following the last day of a complaint investigation, the director shall transmit to the nursing home a statement of deficiencies committed by the facility. Notification of the availability of the independent informal dispute resolution process and an explanation of the independent informal dispute resolution process shall be included in the transmittal.
(c) No nursing home may discharge or in any manner discriminate against any resident, legal representative or employee for the reason that the resident, legal representative or employee has filed a complaint or participated in any proceeding specified in this article. Violation of this prohibition by any nursing home constitutes ground for the suspension or revocation of the license of the nursing home as provided in section eleven of this article. Any type of discriminatory treatment of a resident, legal representative or employee by whom, or upon whose behalf, a complaint has been submitted to the director, or any proceeding instituted under this article, within one hundred twenty days of the filing of the complaint or the institution of such action, shall raise a rebuttable presumption that such action was taken by the nursing home in retaliation for such complaint or action.
(4) A complaint inspection based on a complaint received by the director. If, after investigation of a complaint, the director determines that the complaint is substantiated, the director may invoke any applicable remedies available pursuant to section eleven of this article.
(a) The director may grant an exemption from a license inspection if a nursing home was found to be in substantial compliance with the provisions of this chapter at its most recent inspection and there have been no substantiated complaints thereafter. The director may not grant more than one exemption in any two-year period.
(b) The director may grant an exemption to the extent allowable by federal law from a standard survey, only if the nursing home was found to be in substantial compliance with certification participation requirements at its previous standard survey and there have been no substantiated complaints thereafter.
(c) The director may grant an exemption from periodic license inspections if a nursing home receives accreditation by an accrediting body approved by the director and submits a complete copy of the accreditation report. The accrediting body shall identify quality of care measures that assure continued quality care of residents. The director may not grant more than one exemption in any two-year period.
(d) If a complaint is substantiated, the director has the authority to immediately remove the exemption.
(a) Reports of all inspections made pursuant to section nine of this article shall be in writing and filed with the director, and shall list all deficiencies in the nursing home's compliance with the provisions of this article and the rules adopted hereunder.
(1) No later than ten working days following the last day of the survey or inspection, the director shall transmit to the nursing home a copy of such report and shall specify a time within which the nursing home shall submit a plan for correction of such deficiencies.
(2)Additionally, notification of the availability of the independent informal dispute resolution process and an explanation of the independent informal dispute resolution process shall be included in the transmittal.
(3) A nursing home adversely affected by an order or citation of a deficient practice issued pursuant to this section may request the independent informal dispute resolution process contained in section twelve-a of this article.
(4) The plan submitted by the nursing home shall be approved, rejected or modified by the director.
(5) The surveyors or the nursing home shall allow audio taping of the exit conference with the expense to be paid by the requesting party.
(b) With regard to a nursing home with deficiencies and upon its failure to submit a plan of correction which is approved by the director, or to correct any deficiency within the time specified in an approved plan of correction, the director may assess civil penalties as hereinafter provided or may initiate any other legal or disciplinary action as provided by this article: Provided, That any action by the director shall be stayed until federal proceedings arising from the same deficiencies are concluded.
(c) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit the director from enforcing a rule, administratively or in court, without first affording formal opportunity to make correction under this section, where, in the opinion of the director, the violation of the rule jeopardizes the health or safety of residents, or where the violation of the rule is the second or subsequent such violation occurring during a period of twelve full months.
(d) Civil penalties assessed against nursing home shall not be less than fifty nor more than eight thousand dollars: Provided, That the director may not assess a penalty under state licensure for the same deficiency or violation cited under federal law and may not assess a penalty against a nursing home if the nursing home corrects the deficiency within twenty days of receipt of written notice of the deficiency unless it is a repeat deficiency or the nursing home is a poor performer.
(5) Any additional factors that may be relevant.
(5) If no plan of correction is submitted as established in this rule, a penalty may be assessed in the amount of one hundred dollars a day unless a reasonable explanation has been provided and accepted by the director.
(g) The director shall assess a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars against an individual who willfully and knowingly certifies a material and false statement in a resident assessment. Such penalty shall be imposed with respect to each such resident assessment. The director shall impose a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars against an individual who willfully and knowingly causes another individual to certify a material and false statement in a resident assessment. Such penalty shall be imposed with respect to each such resident assessment.
(h) The director shall assess a civil penalty of not more than two thousand dollars against any individual who notifies, or causes to be notified, a nursing home of the time or date on which an inspection is scheduled to be conducted under this article or under titles eighteen or nineteen of the federal Social Security Act.
(i) If the director assesses a penalty under this section, the director shall cause delivery of notice of such penalty by personal service or by certified mail. Said notice shall state the amount of the penalty, the action or circumstance for which the penalty is assessed, the requirement that the action or circumstance violates, and the basis upon which the director assessed the penalty and selected the amount of the penalty.
(j) The director shall, in a civil judicial proceeding, recover any unpaid assessment which has not been contested under section twelve of this article within thirty days of receipt of notice of such assessment, or which has been affirmed under the provisions of that section and not appealed within thirty days of receipt of the director's final order, or which has been affirmed on judicial review, as provided in section thirteen of this article. All money collected by assessments of civil penalties or interest shall be paid into a special resident benefit account and shall be applied by the director for: (1) The protection of the health or property of facility residents; (2) long-term care educational activities; (3) the costs arising from the relocation of residents to other nursing homes when no other funds are available; and (4) in an emergency situation in which there are no other funds available, the operation of a facility pending correction of deficiencies or closure.
(k) The opportunity for a hearing on an action taken under this section shall be as provided in section twelve of this article.
(a) The director may reduce the bed quota of the nursing home or impose a ban on new admissions, where he or she finds upon inspection of the nursing home that the licensee is not providing adequate care under the nursing home's existing bed quota, and that reduction in quota or ban on new admissions, or both, would place the licensee in a position to render adequate care. A reduction in bed quota or a ban on new admissions, or both, may remain in effect until the nursing home is determined by the director to be in substantial compliance with the rules. In addition, the director shall determine that the facility has the management capability to ensure continued substantial compliance with all applicable requirements. The director shall evaluate the continuation of the admissions ban or reduction in bed quota on a continuing basis, and may make a partial lifting of the admissions ban or reduction in bed quota consistent with the purposes of this section. If the residents of the facility are in immediate jeopardy of their health, safety, welfare or rights, the director may seek an order to transfer residents out of the nursing home as provided for in subsection (e) of this section. Any notice to a licensee of reduction in bed quota or a ban on new admissions shall include the terms of such order, the reasons therefor, and a date set for compliance.
(b) The director may suspend or revoke a license issued under this article or take other action as set forth in this section, if he or she finds upon inspection that there has been a substantial failure to comply with the provisions of this article or the standards or rules promulgated pursuant hereto.
(c) Whenever a license is limited, suspended or revoked pursuant to this section or the director imposes other action set forth in this section, the director shall file a complaint stating facts constituting a ground or grounds for such limitation, suspension or revocation or other action. Upon the filing of the complaint, the director shall notify the licensee in writing of the filing of the complaint within twenty days of exit conference, enclosing a copy of the complaint, and shall advise the licensee of the availability of a hearing pursuant to section twelve of this article. Such notice and copy of the complaint shall be served on such licensee by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(d) The suspension, expiration, forfeiture or cancellation by operation of law or order of the director of a license issued by the director, or the withdrawal of an application for a license after it has been filed with the director, may not deprive the director of the director's authority to institute or continue a disciplinary proceeding, or a proceeding for the denial of a license application, against the licensee or applicant upon any ground provided by law or to enter an order denying the license application or suspending or revoking the license or otherwise taking disciplinary action on any such ground.
(B) Improvements are made in order to bring the nursing home into compliance with all the applicable requirements of this article and, if applicable, titles eighteen and nineteen of the federal Social Security Act.
If the director petitions a circuit court for the closure of a nursing home, the transfer of residents, or the appointment of temporary management, the circuit court shall hold a hearing no later than seven days thereafter, at which time the director and the licensee or operator of the nursing home may participate and present evidence. The burden of proof is on the director.
A circuit court may divest the licensee or operator of possession and control of a nursing home in favor of temporary management. The temporary management shall be responsible to the court and shall have such powers and duties as the court may grant to direct all acts necessary or appropriate to conserve the property and promote the health, safety, welfare and rights of the residents of the nursing home, including, but not limited to, the replacement of management and staff, the hiring of consultants, the making of any necessary expenditures to close the nursing home or to repair or improve the nursing home so as to return it to compliance with applicable requirements, and the power to receive, conserve and expend funds, including Medicare, Medicaid and other payments on behalf of the licensee or operator of the nursing home. Priority shall be given to expenditures for current direct resident care or the transfer of residents. Expenditures other than normal operating expenses totaling more than $20,000 shall be approved by the circuit court.
The person charged with temporary management shall be an officer of the court, is not liable for conditions at the nursing home which existed or originated prior to his or her appointment and is not personally liable, except for his or her own gross negligence and intentional acts which result in injuries to persons or damage to property at the nursing home during his or her temporary management. All compensation and per diem costs of the temporary manager shall be paid by the nursing home. The costs for the temporary manager for any thirty-day period may not exceed the seventy-fifth percentile of the allowable administrators salary as reported on the most recent cost report for the nursing home's peer group as determined by the director. The temporary manager shall bill the nursing home for compensation and per diem costs. Within fifteen days of receipt of the bill, the nursing home shall pay the bill or contest the costs for which it was billed to the court. Such costs shall be recoverable through recoupment from future reimbursement from the state Medicaid agency in the same fashion as a benefits overpayment.
The temporary management shall promptly employ at least one person who is licensed as a nursing home administrator in West Virginia.
A temporary management established for the purpose of making improvements in order to bring a nursing home into compliance with applicable requirements may not be terminated until the court has determined that the nursing home has the management capability to ensure continued compliance with all applicable requirements, except if the court has not made such determination within six months of the establishment of the temporary management, the temporary management terminates by operation of law at that time, and the nursing home shall be closed. After the termination of the temporary management, the person who was responsible for the temporary management shall make an accounting to the court, and after deducting from receipts the costs of the temporary management, expenditures and civil penalties and interest no longer subject to appeal, in that order, any excess shall be paid to the licensee or operator of the nursing home.
(f) The assessments for penalties and for costs of actions taken under this article shall have interest assessed at five percent per annum beginning thirty days after receipt of notice of such assessment or thirty days after receipt of the director's final order following a hearing, whichever is later. All such assessments against a nursing home that are unpaid shall be added to the nursing home's licensure fee and may be filed as a lien against the property of the licensee or operator of the nursing home. Funds received from such assessments shall be deposited as funds received in section ten of this article.
(g) The director may propose additional rules and emergency rules that expand the power of the director in excess of that provided in this article to the extent required to comply with federal requirements, but any such rules shall expand the power of the director to the minimum extent required by federal requirements. Such rules are subject to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(h) The opportunity for a hearing on an action by the director taken under this section shall be as provided in section twelve of this article.
(a) Any licensee or applicant aggrieved by an order issued pursuant to sections five, six, ten or eleven of this article may request an informal and formal hearing at which the licensee or applicant may contest the order as contrary to law or unwarranted by the facts or both. All of the pertinent provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code apply to and govern a formal hearing and the administrative procedures in connection with any formal hearing.
A facility or licensee adversely affected by an order or citation of a deficient practice issued pursuant to this article or by a citation issued for a deficient practice pursuant to federal law may request the independent informal dispute resolution process contained in section twelve-a of this article. A facility may contest a cited deficiency as contrary to law or unwarranted by the facts or both.
(2) Transfer of residents and a ban on new admissions pursuant to section eleven of this article.
(b) Informal hearings shall be held within twenty working days of the director's receipt of timely request for appeal, unless the licensee or applicant aggrieved by the order consents to a postponement or continuance. In no event may the informal hearing occur more than thirty business days after the director receives timely request for appeal. At the informal hearing, neither the licensee or applicant nor the director may be represented by an attorney. Within ten days of the conclusion of the informal hearing, the director shall issue an informal hearing order, including a basis for the decision.
(c) If the applicant or licensee requested a formal hearing only, the director and the licensee shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Health and Human Resources rules of procedure for contested case hearings and declaratory rulings. If the applicant or licensee also requested an informal hearing or the independent informal dispute resolution process contained in section twelve-a of this article, and if the order is not favorable to the applicant or licensee, the director shall notify the administrative hearing examiner of the request for an appeal within five business days of issuing the order.
(a) A facility or licensee adversely affected by an order or citation of a deficient practice issued pursuant to this article or by a citation issued for a deficient practice pursuant to federal law may request the independent informal dispute resolution process. A facility may contest a cited deficiency as contrary to law or unwarranted by the facts or both.
(b) The director shall contract with at least three independent review organizations to conduct an independent informal dispute resolution process for facilities. The independent review organization shall be accredited by the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission.
(c) The independent informal dispute resolution process is not a formal evidentiary proceeding and utilizing the independent informal dispute resolution process does not waive the facility's right to a formal hearing.
(3) Within five working days of receipt of the written request for the independent informal dispute resolution process made by a facility, the director shall refer the request to an independent review organization from the list of certified independent review organizations approved by the state. The director shall vary the selection of the independent review organization on a rotating basis. The director shall acknowledge in writing to the facility that the request for independent review has been received and forwarded to an independent review organization for review. The notice shall include the name and address of the independent review organization.
(4) Within ten working days of receipt of the written request for the independent informal dispute resolution process made by a facility, the independent review organization shall hold an independent informal dispute resolution conference unless additional time is requested by the facility. Before the independent informal dispute resolution conference, the facility may submit additional information.
(C) A face-to-face conference held at the facility or a mutually agreed upon location.
(6) If the independent review organization determines the need for additional information, clarification or discussion after conclusion of the independent informal dispute resolution conference, the director and the facility shall present the requested information.
(7) Within ten calendar days of the independent informal dispute resolution conference, the independent review organization shall provide and make a determination, based upon the facts and findings presented, and shall transmit a written decision containing the rationale for its determination to the facility and the director.
(8) If the director disagrees with the determination, the director may reject the determination made by the independent review organization and shall issue an order setting forth the rationale for the reversal of the independent review organization's decision to the facility within ten calendar days of receiving the independent review organization's determination.
(9) If the director accepts the determination, the director shall issue an order affirming the independent review organization's determination within ten calendar days of receiving the independent review organization's determination.
(10) If the independent review organization determines that the original statement of deficiencies should be changed as a result of the independent informal dispute resolution process and the director accepts the determination, the director shall transmit a revised statement of deficiencies to the facility within ten calendar days of the independent review organization's determination.
(11) Within ten calendar days of receipt of the director's order and the revised statement of deficiencies, the facility shall submit a revised plan to correct any remaining deficiencies to the director.
(e) A facility has ten calendar days after receipt of the director's order to request a formal hearing for any deficient practice cited under this article. If the facility requests a formal hearing, the director and the facility shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(1) If the facility requests a face-to-face conference, the facility shall pay any costs incurred by the independent review organization that exceed the cost of a telephonic conference, regardless of which party ultimately prevails.
(2) If the independent review organization's decision supports the originally written contested deficiency or adverse action taken by the director, the facility shall reimburse the director for the cost charged by the independent review organization. If the independent review organization's decision supports some of the originally written contested deficiencies, but not all of them, the facility shall reimburse the director for the cost charged by the independent review organization on a pro rata basis.
(g) The director shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability during the July interim meetings in 2013 on the informal dispute resolution process. This report shall at a minimum include the number of times the informal dispute resolution process is requested, the result of the process, and the number of times the director does not agree and changes the determination of the independent review organization.
Any licensee adversely affected by an order of the director rendered after a hearing held in accordance with the provisions of section twelve of this article is entitled to judicial review thereof. All of the pertinent provisions of section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code shall apply to and govern with like effect as if the provisions of said section four were set forth in extenso in this section.
The judgment of the circuit court shall be final unless reversed, vacated or modified on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals in accordance with the provisions of section one, article six, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(a) Legal counsel and services for the director in all administrative hearings may be provided by the Attorney General or a staff attorney and all proceedings in any circuit court and the Supreme Court of Appeals shall be provided by the Attorney General, or his or her assistants, or an attorney employed by the director in proceedings in any circuit court by the prosecuting attorney of the county as well, all without additional compensation.
(b) The Governor may appoint counsel for the director, who shall perform such legal services in representing the interests of residents in nursing homes in matters under the jurisdiction of the director as the Governor shall direct. It shall be the duty of such counsel to appear for the residents in all cases where they are not represented by counsel. The compensation of such counsel shall be fixed by the Governor.
(a) Whoever advertises, announces, establishes or maintains, or is engaged in establishing or maintaining a nursing home without a license granted under section six of this article, or who prevents, interferes with or impedes in any way the lawful enforcement of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not more than $100, or by confinement in jail for a period of not more than ninety days, or by both fine and confinement, at the discretion of the court. For each subsequent offense, the fine may be increased to not more than $250, with confinement in jail for a period of not more than ninety days, or by both fine and confinement, at the discretion of the court. Each day of a continuing violation after conviction is considered a separate offense.
(b) The director may in his or her discretion bring an action to enforce compliance with this article or any rule or order hereunder whenever it appears to the director that any person has engaged in, or is engaging in, an act or practice in violation of this article or any rule or order hereunder, or whenever it appears to the director that any person has aided, abetted or caused, or is aiding, abetting or causing, such an act or practice. Upon application by the director, the circuit court of the county in which the conduct has occurred or is occurring, or if emergency circumstances occur the circuit court of Kanawha County, has jurisdiction to grant without bond a permanent or temporary injunction, decree or restraining order.
Whenever the director has refused to grant or renew a license, or has revoked a license required by law to operate or conduct a nursing home, or has ordered a person to refrain from conduct violating the rules of the director, and the person has appealed the action of the director, the court may, during pendency of the appeal, issue a restraining order or injunction upon proof that the operation of the nursing home or its failure to comply with the order of the director adversely affects the well being or safety of the residents of the nursing home. Should a person who is refused a license or the renewal of a license to operate or conduct a nursing home or whose license to operate is revoked or who has been ordered to refrain from conduct or activity which violates the rules of the director fails to appeal or should the appeal be decided favorably to the director, then the court shall issue a permanent injunction upon proof that the person is operating or conducting a nursing home without a license as required by law, or has continued to violate the rules of the director.
(c) Any nursing home that deprives a resident of any right or benefit created or established for the well-being of this resident by the terms of any contract, by any state statute or rule, or by any applicable federal statute or regulation, shall be liable to the resident for injuries suffered as a result of such deprivation. Upon a finding that a resident has been deprived of such a right or benefit, and that the resident has been injured as a result of such deprivation, and unless there is a finding that the nursing home exercised all care reasonably necessary to prevent and limit the deprivation and injury to the resident, compensatory damages shall be assessed in an amount sufficient to compensate the resident for such injury. In addition, where the deprivation of the right or benefit is found to have been willful or in reckless disregard of the lawful rights of the resident, punitive damages may be assessed. A resident may also maintain an action pursuant to this section for any other type of relief, including injunctive and declaratory relief, permitted by law. Exhaustion of any available administrative remedies is not required prior to commencement of suit under this subsection.
(d) The amount of damages recovered by a resident, in an action brought pursuant to this section, is exempt for purposes of determining initial or continuing eligibility for medical assistance under article four, chapter nine of this code, and may neither be taken into consideration nor required to be applied toward the payment or part payment of the cost of medical care or services available under that article.
(e) Any waiver by a resident or his or her legal representative of the right to commence an action under this section, whether oral or in writing, is void as contrary to public policy.
(f) The penalties and remedies provided in this section are cumulative and are in addition to all other penalties and remedies provided by law.
(g) Nothing in this section or any other section of the code shall limit the protections afforded nursing homes or their health care providers under article seven-b, chapter fifty-five of this code. Nursing homes and their health care providers shall be treated in the same manner as any other health care facility or health care provider under article seven-b, chapter fifty-five of this code. The terms "health care facility" and "health care provider" as used in this subsection shall have the same meaning as set forth in subsections (f) and (g), section two, article seven-b, chapter fifty-five of this code.
(h) The amendments to this section enacted during the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature shall be effective July 1, 2013: Provided, That there shall be no inference, either positive or negative, to any legal action pending pursuant to this section as of July 1, 2013. The amendments to this section in 2013 are not in any way intended to modify, change, expand or contract the Medical Professional Liability Act. The proper construction of this section and the limitations and provisions of article seven-b, chapter fifty-five of this code shall be determined by principles of statutory construction.
The director shall make available for public inspection and at a nominal cost provide copies of all inspections and other reports of nursing homes filed with or issued by the director. Nothing contained in this section may be construed or deemed to allow the public disclosure of confidential medical, social, personal or financial records of any resident. The director shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of this section and to preserve the confidentiality of medical, social, personal or financial records of residents.
All licenses for nursing homes which are in force on July 1, 1995, shall continue in full force and effect during the period for which issued unless sooner revoked as provided in this article.
All rules in effect on July 1, 1995, which were adopted by the director relating to licensing nursing homes shall remain in full force and effect until altered, amended or repealed by the director.
(a) Each nursing home subject to the provisions of this article shall hold in a separate account and in trust each resident's personal funds deposited with the nursing home.
(b) No person may use or cause to be used for any purpose the personal funds of any resident admitted to any such nursing home unless consent for the use thereof has been obtained from the resident or from a committee or guardian or relative.
(c) Each nursing home shall maintain a true and complete record of all receipts for any disbursements from the personal funds account of each resident in the nursing home, including the purpose and payee of each disbursement, and shall render a true account of such record to the resident or his or her representative upon demand and upon termination of the resident's stay in the nursing home.
(d) Any person or corporation who violates any subsection of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned in jail not more than one year, or both fined and imprisoned.
(e) Reports provided to review organizations are confidential unless inaccessibility of information interferes with the director's ability to perform his or her oversight function as mandated by federal regulations and this section.
(f) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section or any other provision of this code, upon the death of a resident, any funds remaining in his or her personal account shall be made payable to the person or probate jurisdiction administering the estate of said resident: Provided, That if after thirty days there has been no qualification over the decedent resident's estate, those funds are presumed abandoned and are reportable to the State Treasurer pursuant to the West Virginia Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, section one, article eight, chapter thirty-six of this code, et sequella.
Notwithstanding any provision in this code to the contrary, the department shall promulgate legislative rules, in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, pertaining to nursing homes, when those rules are required for compliance with federal law or regulations. The rules may be filed as emergency rules.
(a) When the health status of a nursing home facility resident declines to the state of terminal illness or when the resident receives a physician's order for "comfort measures only," the facility shall notify the resident with information about the option of receiving hospice palliative care. If a nursing home resident is incapacitated, the facility shall also notify any person who has been given the authority of guardian, a medical power of attorney or health care surrogate over the resident, information stating that the resident has the option of receiving hospice palliative care.
(b) The facility shall document that it has notified the resident, and any person who has been given a medical power of attorney or health care surrogate over the resident, information about the option of hospice palliative care and maintain the documentation so that the director may inspect the documentation, to verify the facility has complied with this section.
(18) Any criminal offense related to the delivery of an item or service under Medicare or a state health care program.
(b) The secretary shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to allow persons to appeal decisions, demonstrate rehabilitation, request a review of their initial negative determinations and to implement any variance procedure as may be required by state or federal law.
(a) Every written agreement containing a waiver of a right to a trial by jury that is entered into between a nursing home and a person for the nursing care of a resident, must have as a separate and stand alone document any waiver of a right to a trial by jury.
(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to require a court of competent jurisdiction to determine that the entire agreement or any portion thereof is enforceable, unenforceable, conscionable or unconscionable.
(c) This section applies to all agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2015.

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