Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 480 - RULES OF GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY › Chapter 480-7B - DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS › Rule 480-7B-.06 - Retention of Records, Safety Standards, Security, and Operations

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1)
Consumer
			 counseling.
All personnel engaged in delivery or in-home maintenance and
			 repair of durable medical equipment shall instruct the patient or patient's
			 caregiver on how to use the durable medical equipment provided.
(2)
Continuing education.
Written annual education plan procedures for each classification of personnel
			 must be made available to the Board upon request that includes the following
			 information: description of training content, training method, frequency, and
			 issuance of individual certificates of competence.
(3)
Background Checks.
DME
			 suppliers shall conduct background checks on any person who will have direct
			 contact with patients. Such background check will include at a minimum criminal
			 history. The background check shall be maintained on such persons as long as
			 the person is still performing services for the DME supplier.
(4)
Receipt of complaints from
			 consumers.
DME suppliers shall maintain a telephone number operational
			 during the licensee's regular hours of operation in order to provide support
			 for consumers. Such number shall be capable of receiving inbound calls from
			 consumers to the licensee, and such number shall be on file with Board, and
			 shall be included with any material sent to the consumer with the durable
			 medical equipment.
(5)
Delivery by mail
. A DME supplier that uses delivery by mail is
			 accountable to the Board to arrange for the appropriate mailing/shipping
			 process. The DME supplier shall provide a method by which a patient or
			 patient's caregiver can notify the DME supplier as to any irregularity in the
			 delivery of their DME to include but not be limited to: timeliness of delivery;
			 condition of the DME upon delivery; and failure to receive the DME ordered. A
			 DME supplier using delivery by mail shall document the instances when DME have
			 been compromised during shipment and delivery by mail or when the DME does not
			 arrive in a timely manner, and shall maintain such documentation for two (2)
			 years. In addition, the DME supplier shall maintain reports of patient
			 complaints and internal/external audits about timeliness of deliveries,
			 condition of the DME when received by patient including situations when it was
			 compromised in delivery, the wrong equipment was provided, and the patient
			 failed to receive the DME. Such records shall be provided to the Board, upon
			 request.
(6)
Records.
(a) A DME supplier shall maintain records for
			 all devices shipped, mailed or delivered to patients in the State of Georgia
			 for a period of at least two (2) years. DME suppliers shall notify the Board of
			 each location where the required records are being maintained, and such records
			 must be readily retrievable and produced to the Board or a GDNA Agent upon
			 request. If the DME supplier is out located out of state, the records must be
			 received by the Board or GDNA within fifteen (15) days of the written
			 request.
(b) A DME supplier shall
			 maintain records of all education plan procedures and certificates of
			 competence, for each employee, for a period of at least two (2) years. A DME
			 supplier shall maintain background checks for each person having in-home
			 contact with a customer for the period that such person remains affiliated with
			 the DME supplier. DME suppliers shall notify the Board of each location where
			 the required records are being maintained, and such records must be readily
			 retrievable and produced to the Board or GDNA Agent upon request. If the DME
			 supplier is out located out of state, the records must be received by the Board
			 or GDNA within fifteen (15) days of the written request.