(a) (1) Every licensed medical foster home for veterans shall be periodically inspected and evaluated for quality of care by a representative or representatives designated by the department. Unannounced inspections shall be conducted at least annually and as often as necessary to ensure the quality of care being provided.

(2) During each licensing inspection, the department shall determine if the medical foster home for veterans meets regulatory standards, including, but not limited to, providing veteran residents with the appropriate level of care and supervision based on the medical foster home for veterans license, providing adequate services, maintaining updated resident records and assessments, and complying with basic health and safety standards.

(3) If the department determines that a veteran resident requires a higher level of care than the medical foster home for veterans is authorized to provide, the department may initiate a professional level of care assessment by an assessor approved by the department and consult with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. An assessment shall be conducted in consultation with the veteran resident, the veteran resident’s physician, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and shall reflect the desires of the veteran resident, the veteran resident’s physician, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The assessment also shall recognize that certain illnesses are episodic in nature and that the veteran resident’s need for a higher level of care may be temporary.

(4) The department shall notify a medical foster home for veterans in writing of all deficiencies in its compliance with this chapter and the rules, regulations, and written directives adopted pursuant to this chapter. The department shall set a reasonable length of time for compliance by the licensee.

(5) Unless otherwise specified in the plan of correction, a medical foster home for veterans shall remedy the deficiencies within 10 days of the notification.

(6) The department shall maintain reports on the results of each inspection and consultation. All inspection reports, consultation reports, lists of deficiencies, and plans of correction shall be open to public inspection.

(b) A duly authorized officer, employee, or agent of the department may, upon presentation of proper identification, enter and inspect any place providing personal care, supervision, and services, at any time, with or without advance notice, to secure compliance with, or to prevent a violation of, this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 381, Sec. 2. (AB 2119) Effective January 1, 2023.)