Section 31-7-175. Administration of article

   (a) The administration of this article is vested in the Department of Community Health which shall:

   (1) Prepare and furnish all forms necessary under the provisions of this article in relation to the application for licensure or renewals thereof;

   (2) After consultation with appropriate public interest groups, adopt rules within the standards of this article necessary to effect the purposes of this article; and

   (3) Establish comprehensive rules and regulations for the licensure of hospices.

(b) Rules promulgated by the department shall include but not be limited to the following:

   (1) The qualifications of professional and ancillary personnel in order to furnish adequate hospice care;

   (2) Comprehensive standards for the organization and quality of patient care;

   (3) Procedures for maintaining records;

   (4) Comprehensive standards for inpatient facilities, to include specifications that the hospice retain primary responsibility for the coordination of inpatient hospice care;

   (5) Provision for contractual arrangements for professional and ancillary hospice services; and

   (6) Provisions for the imposition of administrative fines for any violations of any provisions of this article or of department rules or regulations.

Code 1981, § 31-7-175, enacted by Ga. L. 1983, p. 1317, § 2; Ga. L. 2008, p. 12, § 2-18/SB 433; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 1-4/HB 228.