Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024
(a) The department
shall investigate any complaint that meet the following conditions:
(1) The alleged violation(s) occurred not
more than 6 months prior to the date the department was made aware of the
allegation(s);
(2) The complaint is
based upon the complainant's first-hand knowledge regarding the allegation(s)
or on information reported directly to the complainant by a person who has
first-hand knowledge regarding the allegation(s); and
(3) There is sufficient specific information
for the department to determine that the allegation(s), if proven to be true,
would constitute a violation of any of the provisions of RSA 151 or He-P
816.
(b) When
practicable, the complaint shall be in writing and contain the following
information:
(1) The name and address of the
EHC or the alleged unlicensed individual or entity;
(2) The name, address, and telephone number
of the complainant; and
(3) A
description of the situation that supports the complaint and the alleged
violation(s) of RSA 151 or He-P 816.
(c) Investigations shall include all
techniques and methods for gathering information which are appropriate to the
circumstances of the complaint, including, but not limited to:
(1) Requests for additional information from
the complainant;
(2) A physical
inspection of the premises;
(3)
Review of any records that might be relevant and have probative value;
and
(4) Interviews with individuals
who might have information that is relevant to the investigation and might have
probative value.
(d) For
the licensed EHC, the department shall:
(1)
Provide written notification of the results of the investigation to the
licensee along with an inspection report if areas of non-compliance were found
as a result of the investigation;
(2) Notify any other federal, state, or local
agencies of suspected violations of their statutes or rules based on the
results of the investigation, as appropriate;
(3) Notify the licensee in writing and take
no further action if the department determines that the complaint is unfounded,
under (a) above, or does not violate any statutes or rules; and
(4) Require the licensee to submit a POC in
accordance with He-P 816.12(c)
if the inspection results in areas of non-compliance being cited.
(e) The following shall apply for
the unlicensed individual or entity:
(1) The
department shall provide written notification to the owner or person
responsible that includes:
a. The date of
investigation;
b. The reasons for
the investigation; and
c. Whether
or not the investigation resulted in a determination that the services being
provided require licensing under
RSA
151:2, IV;
(2) In accordance with
RSA
151:7-a, II, the owner or
person responsible shall be allowed 7 business days from the date of the notice
required by (1) above to submit a completed application for a
license;
(3) If the owner of an
unlicensed facility does not comply with (2) above, the department shall issue
a written warning to immediately comply with RSA 151 and He-P 816;
and
(4) Any person or entity who
fails to comply after receiving a warning as described in (3) above, shall be
subject to an action by the department for injunctive relief under
RSA
151:17.
(f) Complaint investigation files shall be
confidential in accordance with
RSA
151:13, and shall not be disclosed publicly
but shall be released by the department on written request only:
(1) To the department of justice when
relevant to a specific investigation;
(2) To law enforcement when relevant to a
specific criminal investigation;
(3) When a court of competent jurisdiction
orders the department to release such information; or
(4) In connection with any administrative or
judicial proceedings relative to the licensee.
#9193, eff
6-26-08