N.J. Admin. Code § 5:19-6.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 5:19-6.5 - Rescission and removal

(a) A resident has the right to rescind a continuing care agreement without penalty or forfeiture, except for the application fee and those costs specifically incurred by the facility at the request of the resident and set forth in writing in a separate addendum signed by both parties to the agreement, within 30 days after making an initial deposit or executing the agreement. A resident shall not be required to move into the facility designated in the agreement before the expiration of the 30-day period.

(b) If a resident dies before the date the unit is available for occupancy pursuant to a continuing care agreement, or through illness, injury or incapacity is precluded from becoming a resident under the terms of the continuing care agreement, the agreement shall be automatically rescinded and the resident or the resident's legal representative shall receive a full refund of all moneys paid to the facility, except those costs specifically incurred by the facility at the request of the resident and set forth in writing in a separate addendum signed by both parties to the agreement.

(c) No agreement for care shall permit dismissal or discharge of the resident from the facility prior to the expiration of the agreement without just cause for the removal. For the purposes of the Act, "just cause" means but is not limited to a good faith determination in writing, signed by the medical director and the administrator of the facility, that a resident is a danger to himself or others while remaining in the facility. The written determination shall state:

1. That the determination is made in good faith;

2. The reasons supporting the determination that the resident is a danger to himself or others;

3. The basis for the conclusion that there is no less restrictive alternative to dismissal, discharge or cancellation, as the case may be, for abating the dangerousness of the resident; and

4. The basis for the conclusion that the danger is such that a notice period of less than 60 days is appropriate.

(d) If a facility dismisses a resident for just cause, the resident shall be entitled to a refund of the resident's unearned entrance fee, if any, in the same manner as provided in (f) below.

(e) A resident may request a hearing to contest a facility's decision to dismiss or discharge the resident. The hearing shall be held pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act ( P.L. 1968, c. 410, 52:14B-1et seq.) and the Uniform Administrative Practice Rules, N.J.A.C. 1:1. If a resident has requested a hearing, the resident may not be removed prior to the outcome of the said hearing unless earlier removal is both warranted and required due to documented medical or other emergent needs to protect the resident, other residents, or employees of the facility or for other reasons expressly permitted by law.

(f) It shall not be deemed just cause if the resident is unable to pay monthly maintenance fees until the entire unearned entrance fee plus, where applicable, any third-party insurance benefits received, are earned by the facility. For the purpose of this subsection, the unearned portion shall be the difference between the entrance fee paid by, or on behalf of, the resident and the cost of caring for the resident based upon the per capita cost to the facility. In lieu of calculating the actual per capita cost of caring for a resident, a facility may provide, in the agreement for continuing care, that the per capita cost of caring for the resident shall be calculated as follows:

1. No more than two percent of the entrance fee for each month the resident occupies, or is entitled to occupy, a bed in the residential unit or residential health care unit of the facility;

2. No more than four percent of the entrance fee for each month the resident occupies, or is entitled to occupy, a bed in the nursing unit of the facility; and

3. No more than 10 percent of the entrance fee as a one-time charge for processing and refurbishment.

(g) If the entrance fees as set forth in (f) above are exhausted within 90 days of the date of failure to pay, the facility may not require the resident to leave before 90 days from the date of failure to pay, during which time the resident shall continue to pay the facility a reduced fee based upon the resident's current income.

(h) The following concern cancellation of a continuing care agreement:

1. A resident may, upon 60-days' written notice, cancel the continuing care agreement for any reason.

2. Upon cancellation of the continuing care agreement by either the resident or the facility, the resident shall have the right to receive a refund of the amount of any entrance fee as provided in the continuing care agreement. The amount of the entrance fee shall be set forth in a clear and conspicuous manner in the continuing care agreement.

3. A resident shall be provided at least 60-days' written notice from the facility if the resident's continuing care agreement is being cancelled due to a violation of the facility's rules or regulations. Notification may be waived if the facility can demonstrate just cause for terminating the continuing care agreement in accordance with (c) above. The resident may challenge the facility's notice of continuing care agreement cancellation by requesting a hearing in the same manner as for a hearing in a contested case pursuant to section 9 of P.L. 1968, c. 410 (52:14B-9). If a resident has requested a hearing, the resident may not be removed prior to the outcome of the said hearing unless earlier removal is both warranted and required due to documented medical or other emergent needs to protect the resident, other residents, or employees of the facility or for other reasons expressly permitted by law.

4. In a continuing care agreement that provides for a refundable entrance fee, when a resident permanently vacates the facility, or, in the case of two residents occupying the same residence, when both vacate at the same time, the facility shall provide to the resident or residents or the legal representative of the resident's estate, whichever is applicable, a refund of the refundable entrance fee amount without interest, as set forth in the agreement. Any unpaid fees or charges incurred by the resident including unpaid monthly service fees, as well as the amount of any charitable assistance that the facility has provided to the resident, may also be deducted from the remaining balance of the refund of the entrance fee. Any balance due to the resident shall be payable within 60 days from the date the residence is resold and the entrance fee from the new resident has been received.

5. When an entrance fee deposit is refundable, it shall be paid to either the resident, the resident's named beneficiary, or the legal representative of the resident's estate, whichever is applicable. A resident shall have the right to change, in writing, the named beneficiary for the entrance fee refund at any time.

(i) In any circumstance in which the facility retains or proposes to retain any portion of a resident's entrance fee or to deduct any amounts from any refund of an entrance fee due to the resident, the facility, prior to retaining or deducting such amounts, shall provide the resident (or the resident's legal representative) with written notice itemizing all such amounts and specifying the method by which such amounts were determined.

(j) No act, agreement or statement of a resident or of an individual purchasing care for a resident under any agreement to furnish care to the resident shall constitute a valid waiver of any provision of the Act intended for the benefit or protection of the resident or the individual purchasing care for the resident.

(k) An agreement entered into prior to March 2, 1987 or prior to the issuance of a certificate of authority to the provider is valid and binding upon both parties in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:19-6.5

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 710(a), effective 4/6/2015.