North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 10A - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 13 - NC MEDICAL CARE COMMISSION
Subchapter K - HOSPICE LICENSING RULES
Section .0200 - LICENSE
Section 13K .0208 - INSPECTIONS

(a) Any hospice agency or facility shall be subject to inspections by authorized representatives of the Department at any time as a condition of holding such license.

(b) Any person or organization subject to licensure which presents itself to the public as a hospice which does not hold a license, and is or may be in violation of Rule.0202 of this Section and G.S. 131E-203(a) shall be subject to proper inspections at any time by authorized representatives of the Department.

(c) Representatives of the Department shall make their identities known to the person in charge prior to the inspection.

(d) Licensure inspection of medical records shall be carried out in accordance with G.S. 131E-207.

(e) An inspection shall be conducted whenever the purpose of the inspection is to determine whether the agency complies with the provisions of this Subchapter or whenever there is reason to believe that some condition exists which is not in compliance with the rules in this Subchapter. The agency shall allow immediate access to its premises and the records necessary to conduct an inspection and determine compliance with the rules of this Subchapter. Failure to do so shall result in termination of the survey and may result in injunctive relief as outlined in G.S. 131E-206.

(f) An agency shall file a plan of correction for cited deficiencies within 10 working days of receipt of a report of deficiencies. The Department shall review and respond to a written plan of correction within 10 working days of receipt.

(g) Representatives of the Department may visit patients in their homes to assess the agency's compliance with the patients' plans of care and with the licensure rules. Patients shall be contacted by the hospice agency staff in the presence of the Department staff for permission to visit.