| (a) A program provider must be in continuous compliance
with the certification standards contained in this subchapter that
apply to program providers.
(b) The Texas Health and Human Services Commission
(HHSC) conducts the following unannounced surveys:
(1) an initial certification survey;
(2) a recertification survey;
(3) a follow-up survey;
(4) a residential survey; and
(5) an intermittent survey.
(c) HHSC conducts an initial certification survey within
120 calendar days after the date HHSC approves the enrollment or transfer
of the first individual to receive HCS Program services from the program
provider.
(d) HHSC may conduct an intermittent survey at any
time during a certification period.
(e) HHSC may conduct a combination of two or more different
types of surveys at the same time.
(f) If HHSC certifies a program provider after completion
of an initial or a recertification survey, the certification period
is for no more than 365 calendar days.
(g) HHSC may choose not to conduct a recertification
survey of a program provider that has a standard contract if the program
provider is not the program provider for one or more individuals for
at least 60 consecutive calendar days during the period beginning
the first day of the certification period to be surveyed through the
121st calendar day before the end of the certification period.
(h) During a survey, HHSC may:
(1) review the HCS Program or CFC services provided
to any individual to determine if a program provider complies with
the certification standards; and
(2) determine if a program provider has implemented
an approved plan for amelioration as described in §565.47 of
this subchapter (relating to Amelioration).
(i) HHSC conducts an exit conference at the end of
a survey, at a time and location determined by HHSC. At the exit conference,
HHSC informs a program provider of preliminary findings, in writing,
including findings that may result in a critical violation.
(j) If HHSC identifies a finding that may be a critical
violation not discussed during an exit conference, HHSC holds a new
exit conference with a program provider to discuss the finding.
(k) In addition to the surveys described in this section,
HHSC conducts, at least annually, an unannounced visit of each residence
in which residential support or supervised living is provided to determine
if the residence provides a safe and healthy environment that complies
with the certification standards.
(l) Based on the information obtained from a visit
described in subsection (k) of this section, HHSC may:
(1) require the program provider to complete corrective
action before the residential visit ends;
(2) require the program provider to submit, before
the residential visit ends, a written plan describing how the safety
of the individuals will be protected until corrective action is completed;
(3) require the program provider to submit evidence
of corrective action within a time period determined by HHSC; or
(4) conduct an intermittent survey of the program provider.
(m) Based on a survey, HHSC acts as described in §565.49
of this subchapter (relating to Program Provider Compliance and Corrective
Action).
(n) HHSC may evaluate the health and safety of an individual
at any time.
(o) HHSC may conduct an unannounced residential survey
of a residence in which host home/companion care, residential support,
or supervised living is provided to determine if the residence provides
a safe environment.
|
