Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=144A.46&year=2006
Timestamp: 2015-03-04 07:00:41
Document Index: 15947743

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 7', 'art 6', 'art 10', 'art 1', 'art 9', 'art 14', 'art 1', 'art 1']

144A.46 - 2006 Minnesota Statutes
Print 2006 Minnesota StatutesHealthChapter 144ASection 144A.46
About Minnesota Statutes2006 Statutes New, Amended or Repealed2006 Statutes Topics (Index)Chapter 144A
Subdivision 1. License required. (a) A home care provider may not operate in the state without a current license issued by the commissioner of health. A home care provider may hold a separate license for each class of home care licensure.
Subd. 2. Exemptions. The following individuals or organizations are exempt from the requirement to obtain a home care provider license:
(2) a personal care assistant who provides services to only one individual under the medical assistance program as authorized under sections 256B.0625, subdivision 19a, and 256B.04, subdivision 16
(3) a person or organization that exclusively offers, provides, or arranges for personal care assistant services to only one individual under the medical assistance program as authorized under sections 256B.0625, subdivision 19a, and 256B.04, subdivision 16;
Subd. 3. Enforcement. (a) The commissioner may refuse to grant or renew a license, or may suspend or revoke a license, for violation of statutes or rules relating to home care services or for conduct detrimental to the welfare of the consumer. Prior to any suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew a license, the home care provider shall be entitled to notice and a hearing as provided by sections 14.57 to 14.69. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the commissioner may, without a prior contested case hearing, temporarily suspend a license or prohibit delivery of services by a provider for not more than 60 days if the commissioner determines that the health or safety of a consumer is in imminent danger, provided (1) advance notice is given to the provider; (2) after notice, the provider fails to correct the problem; (3) the commissioner has reason to believe that other administrative remedies are not likely to be effective; and (4) there is an opportunity for a contested case hearing within the 60 days. The process of suspending or revoking a license must include a plan for transferring affected clients to other providers.
(b) The owner and managerial officials, as defined in the home care licensure rules, Minnesota Rules, chapter 4668, of a home care provider whose Minnesota license has not been renewed or has been revoked because of noncompliance with applicable law or rule shall not be eligible to apply for nor will be granted a license for five years following the effective date of the nonrenewal or revocation.
(c) The commissioner shall not issue a license to a home care provider if an owner or managerial official includes any individual who was an owner or managerial official of a home care provider whose Minnesota license was not renewed or was revoked as described in paragraph (b) for five years following the effective date of nonrenewal or revocation.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the commissioner shall not renew, or shall suspend or revoke the license of any home care provider which includes any individual as an owner or managerial official who was an owner or managerial official of a home care provider whose Minnesota license was not renewed or was revoked as described in paragraph (b) for five years following the effective date of the nonrenewal or revocation. The commissioner shall notify the home care provider 30 days in advance of the date of nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation of the license. Within ten days after the receipt of this notification, the home care provider may request, in writing, that the commissioner stay the nonrenewal, revocation, or suspension of the license. The home care provider shall specify the reasons for requesting the stay; the steps that will be taken to attain or maintain compliance with the licensure laws and regulations; any limits on the authority or responsibility of the owners or managerial officials whose actions resulted in the notice of nonrenewal, revocation, or suspension; and any other information to establish that the continuing affiliation with these individuals will not jeopardize client health, safety, or well being. The commissioner shall determine whether the stay will be granted within 30 days of receiving the provider's request. The commissioner may propose additional restrictions or limitations on the provider's license and require that the granting of the stay be contingent upon compliance with those provisions. The commissioner shall take into consideration the following factors when determining whether the stay should be granted:
(e) The provisions contained in paragraphs (b) and (c) shall apply to any nonrenewal or revocation of a home care license occurring after June 1, 1993, the effective date of the home care licensure rules.
(f) For the purposes of this subdivision, owners of a home care provider are those individuals whose ownership interest provides sufficient authority or control to affect or change decisions related to the operation of the home care provider. An owner includes a sole proprietor, a general partner, or any other individual whose individual ownership interest can affect the management and direction of the policies of the home care provider. For the purposes of this subdivision, managerial officials are those individuals who had the responsibility for the ongoing management or direction of the policies, services, or employees of the home care provider relating to the areas of noncompliance which led to the license revocation or nonrenewal.
Subd. 3a. Injunctive relief. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the commissioner may bring an action in district court to enjoin a person who is involved in the management, operation, or control of a home care provider, or an employee of the home care provider from illegally engaging in activities regulated by sections 144A.43 to 144A.47. The commissioner may bring an action under this subdivision in the district court in Ramsey County or in the district in which a home care provider is providing services. The court may grant a temporary restraining order in the proceeding if continued activity by the person who is involved in the management, operation, or control of a home care provider, or by an employee of the home care provider, would create an imminent risk of harm to a recipient of home care services.
Subd. 3b. Subpoena. In matters pending before the commissioner under sections 144A.43 to 144A.47, the commissioner may issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of all necessary papers, books, records, documents, and other evidentiary material. If a person fails or refuses to comply with a subpoena or order of the commissioner to appear or testify regarding any matter about which the person may be lawfully questioned or to produce any papers, books, records, documents, or evidentiary materials in the matter to be heard, the commissioner may apply to the district court in any district, and the court shall order the person to comply with the commissioner's order or subpoena. The commissioner of health may administer oaths to witnesses, or take their affirmation. Depositions may be taken in or outside the state in the manner provided by law for the taking of depositions in civil actions. A subpoena or other process or paper may be served upon a named person anywhere within the state by an officer authorized to serve subpoenas in civil actions, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as prescribed by law for process issued out of a district court. A person subpoenaed under this subdivision shall receive the same fees, mileage, and other costs that are paid in proceedings in district court.
Subd. 3c. Time limits for appeals. To appeal the assessment of civil penalties under section 144A.45, subdivision 2, clause (4), a denial of a waiver or variance, and an action against a license under subdivision 3, a provider must request a hearing no later than 15 days after the provider receives notice of the action.
Subd. 4. Relation to other regulatory programs. In the exercise of the authority granted under sections 144A.43 to 144A.47, the commissioner shall not duplicate or replace standards and requirements imposed under another state regulatory program. The commissioner shall not impose additional training or education requirements upon members of a licensed or registered occupation or profession, except as necessary to address or prevent problems that are unique to the delivery of services in the home or to enforce and protect the rights of consumers listed in section 144A.44. The commissioner of health shall not require a home care provider certified under the Medicare program to comply with a rule adopted under section 144A.45 if the home care provider is required to comply with any equivalent federal law or regulation relating to the same subject matter. The commissioner of health shall specify in the rules those provisions that are not applicable to certified home care providers. To the extent possible, the commissioner shall coordinate the inspections required under sections 144A.45 to 144A.47 with the health facility licensure inspections required under sections 144.50 to 144.58 or 144A.10 when the health care facility is also licensed under the provisions of Laws 1987, chapter 378.
Subd. 5. Prior criminal convictions. (a) Before the commissioner issues an initial or renewal license, an owner or managerial official shall be required to complete a background study under section 144.057. No person may be involved in the management, operation, or control of a provider, if the person has been disqualified under the provisions of chapter 245C. Individuals disqualified under these provisions can request a reconsideration, and if the disqualification is set aside are then eligible to be involved in the management, operation or control of the provider. For purposes of this section, owners of a home care provider subject to the background check requirement are those individuals whose ownership interest provides sufficient authority or control to affect or change decisions related to the operation of the home care provider. An owner includes a sole proprietor, a general partner, or any other individual whose individual ownership interest can affect the management and direction of the policies of the home care provider. For the purposes of this section, managerial officials subject to the background check requirement are those individuals who provide "direct contact" as defined in section 245C.02, subdivision 11, or those individuals who have the responsibility for the ongoing management or direction of the policies, services, or employees of the home care provider. Data collected under this subdivision shall be classified as private data under section 13.02, subdivision 12.
History: 1987 c 378 s 6; 1988 c 689 art 2 s 268; 1989 c 209 art 2 s 1; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 26; 1990 c 426 art 2 s 1; 1991 c 286 s 9,10; 1991 c 292 art 2 s 10; art 7 s 2; 1992 c 513 art 6 s 7-9; 1994 c 488 s 8; 1995 c 63 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 10 s 4; 1997 c 113 s 4,5; 1997 c 193 s 47; 1997 c 195 s 1; 1997 c 248 s 2; 1998 c 254 art 1 s 32; 1999 c 107 s 66; 1999 c 245 art 9 s 3; 2000 c 260 s 21; 2000 c 343 s 4; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 35; 2002 c 252 s 7-9,24; 2003 c 15 art 1 s 33; 2005 c 147 art 1 s 4