<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".40" citation="COMAR 10.07.14.40" title_num="10" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="14" heading="Misuse of Resident’s Funds.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A person may not misappropriate a resident’s assets or income, including spending the resident’s assets or income against or without the consent of the resident or, if the resident is unable to consent, the resident agent.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>An individual who witnessed, or otherwise has reason to believe, that there has been an abuse of a resident’s funds shall make a complaint within 24 hours to the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Appropriate law enforcement agency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Office of Health Care Quality of the Department;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Ombudsman within the Department of Aging or local area agency on aging; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Local Department of Human Services or Adult Protective Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The agency that investigates the abuse of a resident’s funds shall send a report to any other agency listed under §B of this regulation that participates in the licensure or subsidizes the care of the resident. Any agency may make a referral to the State’s Attorney’s Office, or to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Criminal Division of the Office of the Attorney General, if appropriate.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>