<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".23" citation="COMAR 10.07.16.23" title_num="10" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="16" heading="Licensure Standards Waiver.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Department may grant a limited private inpatient facility a waiver from the licensure requirements under Regulation .12 of this chapter with, or without, conditions.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Application for Licensure Standards Waiver.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A facility shall submit a request for a waiver on a form developed by the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The requestor shall provide in writing the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Regulation from which a waiver is sought;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Reason the facility is unable to comply with the regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Reason that compliance with the regulation will impose a substantial hardship; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Reason that a waiver will not adversely affect residents.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Evaluation of Application for Licensure Standards Waiver. In evaluating a waiver request, the Department shall review the statements in the application, and may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Inspect the limited private inpatient facility;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Confer with the limited private inpatient facility director; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Discuss the request with the residents or their representatives to determine whether the residents or their representatives believe a waiver is in the residents’ best interest.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Grant or Denial of Licensure Standards Waiver.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department may grant a waiver request if the Department determines that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Compliance with the regulation from which the waiver is sought cannot be accomplished without substantial hardship; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A waiver will not adversely affect residents.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the Department determines that the conditions of §D(1) of this regulation are not met, the Department shall deny the request for a waiver. The denial of a waiver may not be appealed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Written Decision.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department shall issue and mail to the applicant a written decision on a waiver request submitted under §B of this regulation within 45 days from receipt of the request and all appropriate supporting information.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the Department grants the waiver, the written decision shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The waiver’s duration; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Any conditions imposed by the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>If the limited private inpatient facility violates any condition of the waiver, or if it appears to the Secretary that the health or safety of residents residing in the limited private inpatient facility will be adversely affected by the continuation of the waiver, a waiver may be revoked. The revocation of a waiver may not be appealed.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>