<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 10.07.05.04" title_num="10" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="05" heading="Licensing Procedures.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Application for License.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>To obtain and maintain a license, an applicant shall meet all of the requirements of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>This chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Other applicable federal, State, and local laws and regulations.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An applicant shall submit:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An application on a written or electronic form developed by the Department;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Verification that the applicant or corporate representative is 21 years old or older;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Documentation of any prior denial, suspension, or revocation of a license or certification to provide care to third parties;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Identification of any individual or corporate owner of a 25 percent or more interest in the agency;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Ownership information as specified on an addendum to the application;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Information concerning any license or certification held by the applicant under Health Occupations Article or Health-General Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, including prior or current operation of a similar health care program by the applicant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Disclosure of any criminal charges or convictions, and disclosure of any findings of violation of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Medicare and Medicaid laws and regulations;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Health-General Article, Annotated Code of Maryland; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Information demonstrating the financial or administrative ability to operate an agency in compliance with this chapter, which shall include at a minimum a business plan that contains a:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>1-year operating budget;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Marketing plan that identifies the populations to be served; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Detailed and specific description of agency services;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Copies of the agency’s policies and procedures as specified in Regulation .08B of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Proof of Workers’ Compensation for all employees as required by the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>A nonrefundable license fee of $1,000 made payable to the Department for a 3-year licensing fee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Additional Requirements for Initial Licensure.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If the applicant, owner, or person identified in §A(2)(d) of this regulation has had their license suspended or revoked by the Department that person may not own, operate, or manage another agency for 10 years without good cause shown. After 10 years, the applicant shall submit evidence to the Department that the applicant is capable of owning, managing, or operating an agency within the laws and regulations.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If an applicant, owner, or person identified in §A(2)(d) of this regulation operates or manages an agency, that applicant, owner, or individual may not apply to open additional agencies, if the agency:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Has had sanctions imposed within the last 2 years; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Has not achieved compliance with the regulations at the time of application for licensure.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Department reserves the right to deny licensure for a residential service agency to an applicant, an owner, or an individual identified in §A(2)(d) of this regulation, based on that person’s prior:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>History of violations of residential service agency regulations; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Criminal history that the Department determines may be potentially harmful to clients.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Department shall review all applications for licensure to determine whether the applicant:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Can provide appropriate services to sick or disabled individuals who require care in the individuals’ residence; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Meets the regulatory requirements of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>In addition to any other rights of inspection, before approving or denying an application for licensure, the Department may conduct an announced or unannounced on-site inspection of the agency.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Based on information provided to the Department by the applicant, the Secretary shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Approve the application unconditionally;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Approve the application conditionally, which may include, among other conditions, requiring:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The applicant to use the services of a management firm approved by the Secretary; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A licensure term of less than 1 year; or</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Deny the application.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The Secretary may not require the use of a management firm for a period in excess of 24 months.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>A person aggrieved by a decision of the Secretary under this regulation to deny a license application may appeal the Secretary’s action by filing a request for a hearing consistent with Regulation .28 of this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Duration of License. A license is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance, unless:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Surrendered, suspended, or revoked; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>It is a provisional license as described in §J of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>License Renewal. A licensee shall submit to the Department:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An application for license renewal on a written or electronic form developed by the Department;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A nonrefundable license renewal fee of $1,000 made payable to the Department for a 3-year licensing fee;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Copies of any policies and procedures that have changed substantively since they were previously reviewed by the Department, including those relevant to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Handling of complaints made to the agency; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Evaluation and assessment of clients;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Valid professional licenses and certificates for all current employees; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>An annual data collection survey in the form and manner prescribed by the Secretary with each application for license renewal.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Licenses for Less than 1 Year.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department may issue a provisional license if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The agency intends to provide services limited to skilled nursing and home health aid services; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The residential service agency is not in full compliance with this chapter, but, in the opinion of the Department, the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Noncompliance does not constitute a safety or health hazard; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Applicant or licensee has submitted a plan of correction that is acceptable to the Department which satisfactorily addresses the correction of each deficiency within a timeframe acceptable to the Department.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A provisional license may not be extended beyond its expiration date.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>If an agency fails to comply with the regulations of this chapter and the Department needs to conduct more than one on-site prelicensure visit, the Department may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Charge $250 per additional on-site visit; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Deny the license.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>