Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.03 - LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

(1) An applicant for an ACLF license shall submit the following to the office of the Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities:

(a) A completed application on a form approved by the Board;

(b) Nonrefundable application fee;

(c) Demonstration of the ability to meet the financial obligations of the ACLF with a financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant;

(d) A copy of a local business license (if one is required by the locality);

(e) A copy of any and all documents demonstrating the legal status of the business organization that owns the ACLF. If the applicant is a corporation or a limited liability company the applicant must submit a certificate of good standing; and

(f) Any other documents or information requested by the Board.

(2) Before a license is granted, the applicant shall submit to an inspection conducted by Department of Health inspectors to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and rules.

(3) The applicant shall not use subterfuge or other evasive means to obtain a license, such as filing for a license through a second party when an applicant has been denied a license or has had a license disciplined or has attempted to avoid the survey and review process.

(4) ACLF licenses shall expire and become invalid annually on the anniversary date of their original issuance.

(a) In order to successfully renew a license, Department inspectors will periodically inspect each ACLF to determine its compliance with these rules and regulations. If the inspectors find deficiencies, the licensee shall submit an acceptable corrective action plan and shall remedy the deficiencies.

(b) If a licensee fails to renew its license prior to the date of its expiration but submits the renewal form and fee within sixty (60) days thereafter, the licensee may renew late by paying, in addition to the renewal fee, a late penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) per month for each month or fraction of a month that renewal is late; provided that the late penalty shall not exceed twice the renewal fee.

(c) In the event that a licensee fails to renew its license within the sixty (60) day grace period following the license expiration date, then the licensee shall reapply for a license by submitting the following to the Board office:

1. A completed application for licensure; and

2. The license fee provided in rule 0720-26-.04(1).

(d) Upon reapplication, the licensee shall submit to an inspection of the ACLF by Department of Health inspectors.

(5) The Board shall issue a license only for the licensee and the location designated on the license application. If an ACLF moves to a new location, it shall obtain a new license and submit to an inspection of the new building before admitting residents.

(6) A separate license shall be required for each ACLF when more than one facility is operated under the same management or ownership.

(7) Any admission in excess of the licensed bed capacity is prohibited.

(8) Change of Ownership.

(a) A change of ownership occurs whenever the ultimate legal authority for the responsibility of the ACLF's operation is transferred, including a change in the legal structure by which the ACLF is owned and operated, and/or whenever ownership of the preceding or succeeding entity changes.

(b) A licensee shall notify the Board's administrative office of a proposed change of ownership within at least thirty (30) days prior to its occurrence by submitting the following to the Board office:

1. A completed change of ownership application on a form approved by the Board;

2. Nonrefundable application fee;

3. Demonstration of ability to meet the financial obligations of the ACLF with a financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant;

4. A copy of a local business license (if one is required by the locality);

5. A copy of any and all documents demonstrating the formation of the business organization that owns the ACLF;

6. The bill of sale and/or closing documents indicating the transfer of operations of the business entity; and

7. Any other documents or information requested by the Board.

(c) Transactions constituting a change of ownership include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Transfer of the ACLF's legal title;

2. Lease of the ACLF's operations;

3. Dissolution of any partnership that owns, or owns a controlling interest in, the ACLF;

4. The removal, addition or substitution of a partner;

5. Removal of the general partner or general partners, if the ACLF is owned by a limited partnership;

6. Merger of an ACLF owner (a corporation) into another corporation where, after the merger, the owner's shares of capital stock are canceled;

7. The consolidation of a corporate ACLF owner with one or more corporations; or

8. Transfers between levels of government.

(d) Transactions which do not constitute a change of ownership include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Changes in the membership of a corporate board of directors or board of trustees;

2. Merger of two (2) or more corporations where one of the originally-licensed corporations survives;

3. Changes in the membership of a non-profit corporation;

4. Transfers between departments of the same level of government;

5. Corporate stock transfers or sales, even when a controlling interest.

6. Sale/lease-back agreements if the lease involves the ACLF's entire real and personal property and if the identity of the lessee, who shall continue the operation, retains the same legal form as the former owner; or

7. Management agreements if the owner continues to retain ultimate authority for the operation of the ACLF; however, if the ultimate authority is surrendered and transferred from the owner to a new manager, then a change of ownership has occurred.

(9) Certification of Administrator.

(a) Each ACLF must have an administrator who shall be certified by the Board, unless the administrator is currently licensed in Tennessee as a nursing home administrator as required by T.C.A. §§ 63-16-101, et seq.

(b) An applicant for certification as an ACLF administrator shall submit the following to the Board office:

1. A completed application on a form approved by the Board;

2. Nonrefundable application fee;

3. Proof that the applicant is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

4. Proof that the applicant is a high school graduate or the holder of a general equivalency diploma;

5. Results of a criminal background check; and

6. Proof that the applicant has not been convicted of a criminal offense involving the abuse or intentional neglect of an elderly or vulnerable individual.

(c) Renewal of ACLF administrator certification.

1. Certification shall be renewed biennially on June 30.

2. The initial biennial re-certification expiration date of ACLF administrator candidates who receive their first certification between the dates of January 1 and June 30 of any year will be extended to two (2) years plus the additional months remaining in the fiscal year.

3. In order to renew certification, the ACLF administrator shall submit the following to the Board office: renewal application; fee established by rule 0720-26-.04; and proof of having obtained at least twenty-four (24) classroom hours of continuing education during the previous two (2) years.

4. An ACLF administrator shall complete twenty-four (24) classroom hours of continuing education approved by the Board prior to attendance, including, but not limited to the following topics:

(i) State rules and regulations for ACLFs;

(ii) Health care management;

(iii) Nutrition and food service;

(iv) Financial management; and

(v) Healthy lifestyles.

5. All educational courses sponsored by the National Association of Boards of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (NAB) and continuing education courses sponsored by State and/or national associations that focus on geriatric care are board approved.

6. An ACLF administrator who allows an administrator certification to lapse and reapplies for new certification must submit written proof of attendance of at least twenty-four (24) classroom hours of continuing education courses, as described in Part 4 above, within six (6) months after submitting a new application.

(10) The licensee shall immediately notify the Board's administrative office in the event of an absence or change of administrator due to serious illness, incapacity, death or resignation of its named administrator.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-26-.03

Original rule filed February 9, 1998; effective April 25, 1998. Amendment filed March 1, 2007; effective May 15, 2007. Public necessity rule filed May 13, 2009; effective through October 25, 2009. Emergency rule filed October 22, 2009; effective through April 20, 2010. Amendment filed September 24, 2009; effective December 23, 2009. Amendment filed December 16, 2013; effective March 16, 2014. Amendments filed July 10, 2018; effective October 8, 2018. Transferred from chapter 1200-08-25 pursuant to Public Chapter 1119 of 2022 effective 7/1/2022.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 4-5-219, 4-5-312, 4-5-316, 4-5-317, 68-11-201, 68-11-202, 68-11-204, 68-11-206, 68-11-207, 68-11-208, 68-11-209, 68-11-213, and 68-11-216 and Chapter 846 of the Public Acts of 2008, § 1.