Maine § 7853. - Rules

§ 7853.. Rules

The commissioner shall adopt rules for licensed assisted housing facilities. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A, except that rules to establish categories of licensed assisted housing facilities, including private nonmedical institutions, are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.   [PL 2023, c. 176, §19 (AMD).]

1.  Consultation.  The rules must be developed in consultation with the long-term care ombudsman program established pursuant to section 5106, subsection 11‑C, consumer representatives and providers in the type of assisted housing facility to which the rules will apply.

2.  Subject matter.  The rules must include, but are not limited to, administration, quality of care and treatment, if applicable, level and qualifications of staff, rights of residents, contracts, administration of medication, available public and private sources of payment, health and safety of residents and staff, community relations and licensing procedures.

3.  Administration of medication rules.  In adopting the rules for administration of medication, the commissioner shall consider, among other factors, the general health of the persons likely to receive medication and the numbers of persons served and employed by the assisted housing facility. The department may require unlicensed personnel to have successfully completed a program of training and instruction, approved by the department for the administration of medication, that is not limited to in-service training.

4.  Residential care rules.  The commissioner shall adopt rules for the various levels of residential care facilities. In addition to the subject matter of the rules listed in subsection 2, the rules must include criteria for placement of residents who qualify for services as minors, as adults and as persons with disabilities.

5.  Assisted housing facility rules.  The commissioner shall adopt rules for assisted housing facilities. In addition to the subject matter of rules listed in subsection 2, the rules must recognize and promote the efficiencies inherent in providing services in the applicable setting with respect to staffing and other responsibilities, while ensuring quality of care and safety. The rules must set requirements and standards for services rendered in the applicable settings that recognize the differences between those settings and private homes served pursuant to chapter 419. The rules must permit staff in assisted housing facilities to be shared in accordance with section 1812‑C, subsection 6‑A and section 7860.

6.  Applicability of residents' rights rules.  Any rules adopted pursuant to this section pertaining to residents' rights are applicable to licensed assisted housing facilities.

7.  Relationship to tax credit financing.  In adopting rules under this section, the department shall give due consideration to and shall avoid conflicts with the requirements of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and regulations promulgated under the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any other requirements imposed by the federal Internal Revenue Service when financing based on low-income housing tax credits is utilized for the housing component of assisted housing facilities.