Rule 480-7B-.06 - Retention of Records, Safety Standards, Security, and Operations(1)Consumer counseling. All personnel engaged in delivery or in-home maintenance and repair of durable medical equipment shall instruct the patient or patient's caregiver on how to use the durable medical equipment provided.(2)Continuing education. Written annual education plan procedures for each classification of personnel must be made available to the Board upon request that includes the following information: description of training content, training method, frequency, and issuance of individual certificates of competence.(3)Background Checks. DME suppliers shall conduct background checks on any person who will have direct contact with patients. Such background check will include at a minimum criminal history. The background check shall be maintained on such persons as long as the person is still performing services for the DME supplier.(4)Receipt of complaints from consumers. DME suppliers shall maintain a telephone number operational during the licensee's regular hours of operation in order to provide support for consumers. Such number shall be capable of receiving inbound calls from consumers to the licensee, and such number shall be on file with Board, and shall be included with any material sent to the consumer with the durable medical equipment.(5)Delivery by mail. A DME supplier that uses delivery by mail is accountable to the Board to arrange for the appropriate mailing/shipping process. The DME supplier shall provide a method by which a patient or patient's caregiver can notify the DME supplier as to any irregularity in the delivery of their DME to include but not be limited to: timeliness of delivery; condition of the DME upon delivery; and failure to receive the DME ordered. A DME supplier using delivery by mail shall document the instances when DME have been compromised during shipment and delivery by mail or when the DME does not arrive in a timely manner, and shall maintain such documentation for two (2) years. In addition, the DME supplier shall maintain reports of patient complaints and internal/external audits about timeliness of deliveries, condition of the DME when received by patient including situations when it was compromised in delivery, the wrong equipment was provided, and the patient failed to receive the DME. Such records shall be provided to the Board, upon request.(6)Records.(a) A DME supplier shall maintain records for all devices shipped, mailed or delivered to patients in the State of Georgia for a period of at least two (2) years. DME suppliers shall notify the Board of each location where the required records are being maintained, and such records must be readily retrievable and produced to the Board or a GDNA Agent upon request. If the DME supplier is out located out of state, the records must be received by the Board or GDNA within fifteen (15) days of the written request.(b) A DME supplier shall maintain records of all education plan procedures and certificates of competence, for each employee, for a period of at least two (2) years. A DME supplier shall maintain background checks for each person having in-home contact with a customer for the period that such person remains affiliated with the DME supplier. DME suppliers shall notify the Board of each location where the required records are being maintained, and such records must be readily retrievable and produced to the Board or GDNA Agent upon request. If the DME supplier is out located out of state, the records must be received by the Board or GDNA within fifteen (15) days of the written request.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 480-7B-.06
O.C.G.A. §§ 26-4-5, 26-4-27, 26-4-28, 26-4-29, 26-4-51, 26-4-60.
Original Rule entitled "Retention of Records, Safety Standards, Security, and Operations" adopted. F. Mar. 21, 2018; eff. Apr. 10, 2018.