Opinion ID: 1757162
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Did the agency's failure to comply with the reporting requirements of the Vulnerable Adults Act deprive the agency of authority to place Ricks' name on the Nurse's Aide Abuse Registry?

Text: ¶ 24. Ricks claims that the State Department of Health had to refer this matter to the District Attorney for prosecution. The State replies that a valid regulation providing for hearings on accusations of abuse by certified nurse aides was in effect at the time of the incident and was controlling at the time of the hearing. Therefore, the agency was not required to present reported abuse to the district attorney for criminal prosecution. Ricks mistakenly refers to a regulation that did not become effective until May 14, 1994. The old regulation was in effect on October 15, 1993, which was the date of the hearing. This issue is without merit.
¶ 25. Ricks complains that she was not afforded the opportunity for a hearing, in that the hearing was limited to 45 minutes. The Health Department responds that Ricks did not raise this issue at the hearings or during appeal to the lower court, and is procedurally barred from raising it for the first time upon appeal to this Court. Ponder v. State, 335 So.2d 885, 886 (Miss.1976). Further, Ricks does not assert that there is any piece of evidence which she was not allowed to present which would have affected the outcome of the hearing, and therefore, she has not shown that she was prejudiced by any actions taken by the hearing officer. In fact, at the close of the hearing, the Hearing Officer asked Ricks if there was any additional evidence she wished to present, to which she replied, That's it. This issue is without merit.
¶ 26. The Mississippi Vulnerable Adults Act of 1986, Miss.Code Ann. § 43-47-3 et seq. (1993), designates the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Medicaid Fraud Unit as the agencies to which abuse of vulnerable adults must be reported. The agency Administrative Hearing is held pursuant to Federal Regulations contained at Vol. 56, No. 187, of the Federal Register, September 26, 1991. Due process in an administrative setting requires notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard, both of which were afforded to Juanita Ricks. Ricks availed herself of every appeal and was never denied an opportunity to be heard. There is no evidence that the Mississippi Department of Health deviated in any fashion from any of the requirements in this matter. This issue is without merit.