<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".62" citation="COMAR 10.07.14.62" title_num="10" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="14" heading="Health Care Quality Account.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Department shall establish a health care quality account in the Department for assisted living programs.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The health care quality account shall be funded by civil money penalties paid by assisted living programs.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Department shall use funds from the health care quality account to improve the quality of care in assisted living programs.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Expenditure of funds may include, but is not limited to, the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Funding for the establishment and operation of a demonstration project;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A grant award;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Relocation of residents in crisis situations;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Provision of educational programs to assisted living programs, the Office of Health Care Quality, other government, professional, or advocacy agencies, and consumers; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Any other purpose that will directly improve quality of care.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Suggestions for the use of funds may be submitted to the Department from:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Members of the public;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Advocacy organizations;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Government agencies;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Professional organizations, including trade associations;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Assisted living programs; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Assisted living associations.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Decision on Expenditure of Funds.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department, in its sole discretion, shall decide how to spend funds from the health care quality account.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Department’s decision to spend funds or not to spend funds for a specific project or purpose is not a contested case as defined in State Government Article, §10-202(d), Annotated Code of Maryland, and therefore may not be appealed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>