Section 112.10 Utilization
review hearings
a) Utilization review hearings shall be conducted in accordance
with Sections 3-207, 3-405, 3-903, 3-910, 4-209, 4-312, 4-704 and 4-709 of the
Code. When a person who is evaluated as being mildly or moderately mentally
retarded, resides in a Department mental health facility and objects to the
facility director's certification of the treatment and habilitation plan or the
appropriateness of the setting, a utilization review hearing shall be conducted
in accordance with Section 112.20(g). b) Definitions
"Aftercare."
The continuation of needed care and services of a recipient discharged from a
state-operated facility within an appropriate setting with individualized
follow-up services.
"Code."
The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code [405 ILCS 5].
"Day."
As used in this Section and in Section 112.20 means calendar day unless
otherwise indicated.
"Department."
The Department of Human Services.
"Discharge."
The full release of any person admitted under the provisions of the Code, or
transferred under the provisions of Sections 3-8-5, 3-8-6, 3-10-5 and 3-10-6 of
the Unified Code of Corrections [730 ILCS 5/8-5, 8-6, 10-5 and 10-6] for
treatment or habilitation.
"Facility
Director." The director or hospital administrator of a mental health or
developmental disabilities facility.
"Guardian."
The plenary guardian of the person or limited guardian of the person with
specific court authority to make mental health decisions on the person's
behalf. (Section 11a-14 of the Probate Act of 1975 [755 ILCS 5/11a-14].) It
does not include a guardian ad litem or person in loco parentis or with power
of attorney.
"Guardian
ad litem." A person appointed by the court to defend or represent the
interests of a minor or alleged legally disabled during a guardianship
proceeding or in other matters. This person has no right to interfere with the
minor's or alleged legally disabled person or estate.
"In loco
parentis." Any individual, other than a parent or legal guardian, who has
the primary functional responsibility of providing food, shelter, medical care
and education to a minor.
"Person
subject to involuntary admission." A person who is mentally ill and who
because of his or her illness:
is
reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm on him/herself or another
in the near future; or
is unable
to provide for his or her basic physical needs so as to guard himself or
herself from serious harm. (Section 1-119 of the Code)
"Responsible
relative." The spouse or, if the recipient is under 18 years of age, the
parent of a recipient of services. (Section 1-124 of the Code)
"Secretary."
The Secretary of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee, or
the Manager of the Office of Clinical Services when applicable pursuant to
Section 1-108 of the Code.
"Transfer."
The movement of a recipient from one Department facility to another Department
facility or to a Veterans' Administration facility. This does not include
movement from a Department facility to a non-Department facility (other than to
a Veterans' Administration facility) or movement between separate units or
discrete portions of the same facility. It also does not include the discharge
of a recipient.
c) Notice requirements
1) Notice of denial of admission
Whenever a
person seeking admission to a Department facility is denied admission by the
facility, the person shall be given within two hours written notice of his or
her right to request a review of the denial of the facility's decision on the
Notice of Denial of Admission and Right to Request Review form.
2) Notice of non-emergency transfer
A) Whenever a recipient who has been in a Department facility for
more than seven days is to be transferred to another facility, the facility
director shall give written notice of the proposed transfer on the "Notice
of Transfer" form, to the persons identified in Sections 4-206 and 4-709
of the Code at least 14 days prior to the scheduled transfer.
B) Notice of transfer and the right to object shall be given to
recipients being transferred to the Chester Mental Health Center even when such
recipients have been in the Department facility for less than seven days and to
the adult recipient's attorney, guardian, if any, and responsible relative and
to the minor recipient's attorney, parent, guardian or person in loco parentis
who executed the application for admission in accordance with Section 3-910 of
the Code. Except in an emergency, as specified in subsection (c)(3) of this
Section, no transfer shall proceed pending the facility director's decision or
any administrative or judicial review of that decision which is permitted by
law. (See subsection (e)(3) for waiver provisions.)
3) Notice of emergency transfer
In an
emergency, when the health of the recipient or the physical safety of the
recipient or others is imminently imperiled and appropriate care and services
are not available where the recipient is located, a recipient shall be
transferred to another facility as soon as transfer arrangements can be made,
provided that notice is given in accordance with subsection (c)(2) of this
Section, as soon as possible but not later than 48 hours after the transfer. If
an emergency transfer cannot be effected within 48 hours after the decision to
transfer, the transfer shall proceed only as a non-emergency transfer with
prior written notice of the right to object as provided in Sections 3-910 and
4-709 of the Code and subsection (c)(2) of this Section.
4) Notice of discharge
A) Recipient in a mental health facility
i) Adult – Notice shall be given to the adult recipient, the
recipient's attorney, and guardian, if any, on the "Notice of
Discharge" form, at least seven days prior to the date of intended
discharge.
ii) Minor – Notice shall be given to his or her attorney, his or
her parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis who executed the application
for admission, and to the minor if he or she is 12 years of age or older, on
the "Notice of Discharge" form, at least seven days prior to the date
of intended discharge.
B) Recipient in a developmental disabilities facility
i) Notice shall be given at least 14 days prior to the date of
discharge.
ii) Notice shall be given on the "Notice of Discharge"
form, to the recipient, if he or she is 12 years of age or older, to the
recipient's attorney and guardian, if any, to the person who executed the
application for admission and to the resident school district if the recipient
is receiving educational services.
C) Discharge pending a hearing or review
No discharge
shall proceed pending the facility director's decision or any administrative or
judicial review of that decision which is permitted by law, except that persons
temporarily admitted under Section 4-311 of the Code shall not stay beyond 30
days plus the additional time up to the hearing.
5) Notice contents
A) All notices for transfers or discharge shall include:
i) The reasons for the transfer or discharge;
ii) A statement of the right to object; and
iii) The address and telephone number of the Guardianship and
Advocacy Commission.
B) All notices of denial of admission shall include:
i) A statement of the right to request a review of the denial;
and
ii) The address and telephone number of the Guardianship and
Advocacy Commission.
C) If the recipient's or guardian's primary language is not
English or if the recipient or guardian is hearing impaired and/or vision
impaired, arrangements must be made to provide for an adequate explanation in
the person's primary language in accordance with the Department's rule at 59
Ill. Adm. Code 111.20 or preferred method of communication of the recipient's
right to request a review. Arrangements will be made to secure the services of
an interpreter who is fluent in the recipient's or guardian's primary language
to explain the notice to the recipient or guardian.
6) Manner of service of notices
All notices
required by Sections 3-405(a), 3-903(a), 3-910, 4-312(a), 4-704(a) and 4-709 of
the Code shall be served personally on the recipient and/or objector whenever
possible. A copy of the notice, signed by the recipient in acknowledgment of
service, shall be placed in the recipient's clinical record. When personal
service is not possible, first class mail shall be used to serve notice on the
recipient and/or objector and any other person entitled to receive notice.
7) Aftercare and case coordination
Aftercare
and case coordination shall be provided to all discharged and conditionally
discharged recipients in accordance with the Department's rules at 59 Ill. Adm.
Code 125 (Recipient Discharge/Linkage/Aftercare).
d) Requests
for review of denial of admission
1) To a mental health facility
A) Adult – A review of a denial of admission may be requested by
the person seeking admission or, with the person's consent, by an interested
person on his or her behalf.
B) Minor – The request may be made by the minor's attorney, by his
or her parent, guardian or person in loco parentis who executed the application
for admission, or by the minor if the minor is 16 years of age or older.
2) To a developmental disabilities facility
A review of
the denial of admission may be requested by the person who executed the
application for admission or by the attorney or guardian of the person for whom
admission is sought.
3) Manner of requesting review
The request
for review must be submitted, in writing, to the facility director of the
facility to which admission was sought within 14 days after the denial.
Facility staff shall notify the recipient or other persons requesting review
that staff are available to assist in contacting the Guardianship and Advocacy
Commission and to prepare a written request for review of a denial of
admission.
4) Admission pending review
An
individual requesting review of admission denial does not have a right to
admission pending the outcome of the hearing and review.
e) Objection to a transfer or discharge
1) Transfer of a recipient
A) Adult recipient in a mental health facility
A recipient
may object to his or her transfer or the recipient's attorney, guardian, or
responsible relative may object on the recipient's behalf.
B) Minor recipient in a mental health facility
The minor's
attorney, the person who executed the application for admission, or the minor,
if the minor is 12 years of age or older, may object to the transfer.
C) Recipient in a developmental disabilities facility
A recipient
may object to his or her transfer or any person entitled to receive notice
under subsection (c)(2) of this Section, may object on the recipient's behalf.
D) Manner of making an objection
An objection
to a transfer must be submitted, in writing, prior to the transfer or within 14
days after an emergency transfer to the facility director of the facility where
the recipient is located. Facility staff shall notify the recipient or other
persons objecting to a transfer that staff are available to assist in
contacting the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission and to prepare a written
objection to a transfer.
2) Discharge of a recipient
A) In a mental health facility
i) Adult – A recipient may object to his or her discharge or the
recipient's attorney or guardian may object on the recipient's behalf.
ii) Minor – The minor's attorney, the person who executed the
application for admission, or the minor, if the minor is 12 years of age or
older, may object to the discharge.
B) In a developmental disabilities facility
The recipient,
if he or she is 12 years of age or older, may object to the discharge or
conditional discharge, or the recipient's attorney or guardian, or the person
who executed the application for admission, may object on the recipient's
behalf.
C) Manner of making an objection
All objections
to a discharge must be submitted, in writing, to the facility director of the
facility where the recipient is located prior to the discharge. Facility staff
shall notify the recipient or other persons objecting to a discharge that staff
are available to assist in contacting the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission
and to prepare a written objection to a discharge.
3) Waiver of hearing
A) Any person entitled to request a hearing regarding a denial of
admission, a discharge or a transfer may waive his or her hearing thereon. If
a legally competent adult recipient or legal representative on the recipient's
behalf waives his/her hearing, a request for a hearing made by another person
will not be honored.
B) A waiver shall be deemed effective only if all of the following
conditions are satisfied:
i) The person has been advised of his or her rights to object
and to have a hearing;
ii) The person has been advised of and understands the
consequences of waiving such hearing; and
iii) The person has expressed his or her waiver of the hearing in
writing.
C) All waivers shall be filed in the recipient's medical record
along with the notice. The record should:
i) Reflect that the recipient was advised and understood the
consequences of the waiver; and
ii) Indicate who made the decision that the recipient understood
the consequences of the waiver.
D) When a waiver of a hearing has been made in accordance with
subsection (e)(3)(B)(iii) of this Section, the Department may proceed to
implement its transfer or discharge.
E) If the person, or legal representative on that person's behalf,
withdraws the waiver prior to the expiration of the 14-day period for transfer
or the seven-day period for discharge, such action shall be considered a formal
objection and a hearing shall be scheduled. The responsibility for the hearing
shall be with the transferring or discharging facility.
f) The utilization review committee
Each
Department facility director shall recommend individuals to serve on a
utilization review committee(s) in accordance with Sections 3-207 and 4-209 of
the Code to hear requests for review and objections received under the Code.
The recommendations shall be sent to the Secretary or his or her designee for
approval or denial.
1) The committee shall consist of at least three and not more
than seven members, who shall represent at least two different professional
clinical disciplines, trained and equipped to deal with the recipient's
clinical and treatment needs (for persons with mental illness) or habilitation
needs (for persons with developmental disabilities) or both types of needs for
those persons with dual diagnosis in accordance with Section 112.20(g)(3).
Clinical disciplines include psychiatry, psychology, medicine, nursing, social
work, or the other disciplines that qualify a person to be a qualified mental
retardation professional, as defined in Section 112.20(d).
A) The committee membership may be permanent or rotating, at the
facility director's discretion and must be approved by the Secretary; or
B) The facility director shall not recommend himself/herself or
designee, or any staff member involved in the decision to admit, transfer or
discharge the recipient to be a committee member or to participate in the
committee's decision on any request for review or objection.
2) The facility director, or at the facility director's discretion,
the committee, shall appoint, from the committee's membership, a chairperson
who shall have the duties and responsibilities as set forth in subsection
(g)(2)(A) of this Section.
g) The utilization review hearing
1) General provisions
A) Scheduling the hearing
Upon receipt
of a request for a review or an objection, the facility director shall schedule
a hearing to be held at the facility within seven working days. If the hearing
is to review an objection to a transfer, the hearing shall be held at the
transferring facility. When an emergency transfer has taken place, the hearing
will be held at the receiving facility, provided that the hearing may be held
at the transferring facility when the facility director of the receiving
facility finds that either of the parties would not be able to completely
present witnesses or evidence at a hearing at the receiving facility within the
specified time.
B) Notice of hearing
The recipient
and objector, and the representative or attorney of each, shall be informed, in
writing, of the time, place and date of the hearing either personally or by
first class mail at least 72 hours before the hearing.
C) Continuances
The committee
chairperson, at his or her sole discretion, may grant a continuance of the
hearing at the request of the Department or the recipient or objector if he or
she determines that a continuance would not adversely affect the rights of
either of the parties to present evidence and witnesses.
D) Representative
The recipient
and objector may be represented at the hearing by any person of his or her
choice, subject to the provisions of subsection (g)(2)(A)(iv) of this Section.
E) Witnesses
The Department
and the recipient and objector may present evidence orally and in writing and
may present argument. The facility director or designee shall appoint one or
more persons to present the Department's case at the hearing.
F) Right to be present
Unless waived
by the recipient or his or her attorney, the recipient or the objector (if not
the recipient) has the right to be present at the hearing as well as
responsible relatives and other interested persons designated by the recipient.
2) Hearing procedures
A) Duties of the chairperson
The
chairperson is responsible for the orderly conduct of the utilization review
hearing. He or she shall conduct the hearing so that both the facility and the
objector are allowed to present their evidence and arguments completely. To
these ends, the chairperson has the following authorities and responsibilities,
including, but not limited to:
i) Requiring the Department to present its evidence prior to
hearing evidence from the recipient or objector;
ii) Prescribing the order of presentation within the Department's
or objector's presentation to accommodate witnesses' schedules or respond to
inquiries from committee members;
iii) Terminating the taking of testimony when the committee is
satisfied that both parties have presented all relevant information related to
the facility's decision;
iv) Declaring an individual ineligible to represent the recipient
or objector due to his or her employment by the Department. If the chairperson
declares an individual ineligible, he or she shall give the recipient an
opportunity to secure a substitute within seven days. This shall not be used
to prevent a Department employee from testifying on behalf of the recipient;
v) Taking official notice on the record of generally recognized
technical, scientific or clinical facts within the Department's specialized
knowledge;
vi) Insuring that a complete and accurate record of the hearing is
made by an audio tape or stenographic recording;
vii) Insuring that the committee's findings of fact, conclusions
and recommendations are in compliance with subsection (i)(2) of this Section.
B) Evidence
i) The committee shall not be bound by the rules of evidence or
procedure, but shall conduct the proceedings in a manner that insures both
parties are allowed to present their evidence and arguments completely.
ii) When the hearing will be expedited and the interests of the
parties will not be prejudiced, all or any part of the evidence may be received
in written form if disclosed to all other parties, at least two days, excluding
weekends and holidays, prior to the hearing.
iii) Any party or representative may ask questions of any other
party or witness, and the committee may ask questions of any party or witness.
Questions impeaching the witnesses' character or credentials shall be
prohibited.
iv) If the chairperson takes notice of any generally recognized
technical, scientific, or clinical facts within the Department's specialized
knowledge, he or she shall so inform the recipient and objector and shall
afford them an opportunity to contest the material so noticed. The committee
may use the Department's experience, technical competence and specialized
knowledge in its evaluation of the evidence.
h) Standards
1) For denial of admission to a mental health facility
A) Informal and voluntary
The person may
be denied admission if he or she is not clinically suitable for admission.
This standard applies to all persons age 16 years or older who have executed
their own application for admission. (See Sections 3-300(a), 3-400 and 3-502
of the Code.)
B) Application for a minor executed by his or her parent(s),
guardian or person in loco parentis
The minor may
be denied admission if the minor:
i) Does not have a mental illness or emotional disturbance; or
ii) Does not have a mental illness or emotional disturbance of
such severity that hospitalization is necessary; or
iii) Has a mental illness or emotional disturbance of such
severity that the minor's hospitalization is necessary but the minor is
unlikely to benefit from inpatient treatment. (See Section 3-503(a) of the
Code.)
C) Application for a minor is executed by another person 18 or
older
The minor may
be denied admission if those conditions listed in subsection (h)(1)(B) of this
Section are present or if the minor is not in such condition that immediate
hospitalization is necessary. (See Section 3-504(a) of the Code.)
2) For denial of admission to a developmental disabilities
facility
A) Administrative admission
A person may
be denied admission if he or she is not clinically suitable for admission.
(See Section 4-302 of the Code.)
B) Temporary admission
A person may
be denied admission if:
i) He or she is not developmentally disabled; or
ii) The parent or guardian will not benefit from respite care; or
iii) There is no crisis which necessitates immediate temporary
residential services. (See Section 4-311 of the Code.)
3) For transfer from a mental health facility
A) All transfers occurring more than seven days after admission
The facility
director may transfer a recipient if the transfer is clinically advisable and
consistent with the recipient's treatment needs as defined by the recipient's
individual treatment plan. (See Section 3-908 of the Code.)
B) Emergency transfers
A recipient
may be transferred as soon as the transfer can be arranged when the health of
the recipient or the physical safety of the recipient or others is imminently
imperiled and appropriate care is not available at the facility where the
recipient is located. (See Section 3-910(b) of the Code.) If an emergency
transfer cannot be effected within 48 hours after the decision to transfer, the
transfer shall proceed only as a non-emergency transfer with prior written
notice of the right to object as provided in Section 3-910 of the Code and
subsection (c)(2).
C) Transfer to a more restrictive facility
A recipient
may be transferred if the transfer is clinically advisable and consistent with
the recipient's treatment needs as defined by the recipient's individual
treatment plan and is required for the safety of the recipient or others. (See
Sections 3-908 and 3-910(d) of the Code.)
D) Transfer of minors to adult units
A minor
recipient may be placed in the same unit with adult recipients if:
i) The placement is to a medical unit because of a physical
illness; or
ii) The minor recipient is between 13 and 18 years of age and
temporary security measures are needed. (See Section 7 of the Mental Health
and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act [20 ILCS 1705/7].)
4) For transfer from a developmental disabilities facility
A) All transfers occurring more than seven days after admission
The facility
director may transfer a recipient if the transfer is appropriate and consistent
with the recipient's habilitation needs as defined by the recipient's
individual habilitation plan. A facility which is close to the recipient's
place of residence shall be preferred unless the recipient requests otherwise
or unless compelling reasons exist for preferring another facility. (See
Section 4-707 of the Code.)
B) Emergency transfers
A recipient
may be transferred as soon as the transfer can be arranged when the health of
the recipient or the physical safety of the recipient or others is imminently
imperiled and appropriate care and services are not available at the facility
where the recipient is located. (See Section 4-709(a) of the Code.) If an
emergency transfer cannot be effected within 48 hours after the decision to
transfer, the transfer shall proceed only as a non-emergency transfer with
prior written notice of the right to object and provided in Section 4-709 of
the Code and subsection (c)(2) of this Section.
C) Transfers to a more restrictive facility
A recipient
may be transferred if the transfer is appropriate and consistent with the
recipient's habilitation needs as defined by the recipient's individual
habilitation plan and the transfer is reasonably required for the safety of the
recipient or others. (See Sections 4-707 and 4-709(c) of the Code.)
D) Transfer of minors to adult units
A minor
recipient may be placed in the same unit with adult recipients if:
i) The placement is to a medical unit because of a physical
illness; or
ii) The minor recipient is between 13 and 18 years of age and
temporary security measures are needed. (See Section 7 of the Mental Health
and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act.)
5) For all discharges
For all
discharges, the Department must not only prove by evidence offered at the
hearing that the standards cited in subsections (f)(6) and(7) of this Section
have been met, but must also determine and have in writing the determination
that the recipient to be discharged is not currently in need of hospitalization
and:
A) Is able to live independently in the community; or
B) Requires further oversight and supervisory care for which
arrangements have been made with responsible relatives or a supervised
residential program approved by the Department; or
C) Requires further personal care or general oversight as defined
in the Nursing Home Care Act [210 ILCS 45], for which placement arrangements
have been made with a family home or other licensed facility approved by the
Department under Section 15 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Administrative Act [20 ILCS 1705/15].
6) For discharges from a mental health facility
A) Voluntary, informal or minor admissions
The facility
director may discharge any voluntary, informal or minor recipient who is
clinically suitable for discharge. (See Section 3-902(a) of the Code.)
B) Involuntary admissions
The facility
director shall discharge any recipient who is admitted on a court order for
involuntary admission when the recipient is no longer subject to involuntary
admission, unless voluntary admission is requested and the recipient is
clinically suitable. (See Sections 1-119 and 3-902(b) of the Code.)
C) Transfers from Department of Corrections
The facility
director shall release to the Department of Corrections any recipient
transferred to the Department from the Department of Corrections under the
provisions of Sections 3-8-5, or 3-10-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections when
the recipient is no longer subject to involuntary admission, if he or she is 18
or older, or if the recipient no longer meets the standard for admission of a
minor to a mental health facility if he or she is 17 or younger. (See Sections
3-8-6 or 3-10-6 of the Unified Code of Corrections.)
7) For discharges from a developmental disabilities facility
A) Administrative and temporary admissions
The facility
director may discharge any recipient who is suitable for discharge. (See
Section 4-701(a) of the Code.)
B) Conditional discharge
The facility
director may grant a conditional discharge to a recipient when conditional
discharge is appropriate and consistent with the recipient's habilitation
needs. (See Section 4-702(a) of the Code.)
C) Judicial admissions
A recipient
admitted to a facility upon court order for judicial admission may be
discharged when the recipient no longer meets the standard for judicial
admission, unless administrative admission is requested and the recipient is
clinically suitable. (See Sections 4-500 and 4-701(b) of the Code.)
D) Transfers from Department of Corrections
The facility shall release to the Department of Corrections any recipient
transferred to the Department from the Department of Corrections under the
provisions of Sections 3-8-5, or 3-10-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections when
the recipient no longer meets the standard for judicial admission, if he or she
is 18 or older, or if the recipient is suitable for administrative admission to
a developmental disability facility, if he or she is 17 or younger. (See
Sections 3-8-6 or 3-10-6 of the Unified Code of Corrections.)
i) The committee's findings of fact, conclusions and
recommendations
1) Within three working days after the conclusion of the
utilization review hearing, the committee shall submit to the facility director
its written findings of fact, conclusions and recommendations. The committee
shall not consider or decide questions of law.
2) Findings of fact, conclusions and recommendations shall be
separately stated and so labeled. Findings of fact shall be based exclusively
on the evidence and on matters officially noticed. The Department has the
burden of proof in all utilization review hearings.
A) Findings of fact
To conclude
that the Department has sustained its burden of proof, the committee must find
that the Department has established the facts by substantial evidence.
Substantial evidence is such evidence as a reasonable person can accept as
adequate to support a conclusion (i.e., consists of more than a scintilla of
evidence but somewhat less than a preponderance).
B) Conclusions and recommendations
i) If the committee finds that the Department has established
the facts by substantial evidence, it shall make its written conclusion that
the decision was based on substantial evidence and shall recommend that the
decision be upheld.
ii) The committee shall recommend that the decision be overturned
if it concludes that the Department has not sustained its burden of proof.
C) Manner of service of the committee's recommendations
A copy of
the committee's recommendations, with its factual findings and conclusions,
shall be given to the recipient and objector at the time the recommendations
are submitted to the facility director. Service may be made either personally
or by certified first class mail.
j) Facility director decision
The facility
director shall review the committee hearing record to determine if the evidence
supports the committee's findings of fact, conclusions and recommendations.
The facility director shall not consider or decide issues of law nor
participate in reviewing the committee's recommendations in those instances in
which the facility director made the original decision which was appealed. In
such circumstances, the facility director shall appoint a designee to review
the committee's findings, conclusions and recommendations.
1) Decision
Within seven
days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after receipt of the
committee's recommendations, the facility director shall either accept or
reject the recommendations and shall state the reasons for accepting or
rejecting the recommendations. The facility director shall provide a concise
statement explaining the bases for his or her decision.
2) Manner of service of notice
The facility
director shall give written notice using the "Notice of Facility
Director's Decision" form, either by personal delivery or by certified
first class mail, to the recipient and objector and their attorneys or
representatives within the seven days specified in subsection (j)(1) of this
Section.
3) Right to review
A) The facility director shall, in every case, advise the
recipient and objector that if further review of his or her decision is
desired, it may be obtained by requesting review by the Secretary, in writing
to the facility director, within seven working days of receipt of the decision.
B) If the facility director rejects the committee's
recommendations or if the recipient or objector requests a review of the
facility director's decision, the facility director shall forward a copy of his
or her decision, the committees' recommendations and the hearing record to the
Secretary, within two working days.
k) Review by the Secretary
1) How requested
Whenever a
recipient or objector requests that the Secretary review the facility
director's decision, such request must be in writing, either to the facility
director or the Secretary. The person submitting the request must state the
reasons he or she believes that the facility director's decision is incorrect.
2) Time for request
The person
submitting the request for review must submit it within seven days after
receipt of the facility director's decision. If he or she does not submit a
request for review within this period, the facility director's decision shall
be deemed final and reviewable in accordance with the Administrative Review Law
[735 ILCS 5/Art. III].
3) Scope of the review
The
Secretary's review shall extend to all questions of law and of fact presented
by the entire record of the utilization review hearing and the facility
director's decision. The Secretary shall not consider any additional
evidence. The committee's findings and conclusions on questions of fact shall
be presumed to be true and correct.
4) The Secretary's authority
The Secretary
shall, in reviewing any facility director's decision, have the authority, if he
or she deems it necessary to reach a decision as to any question of fact or law
based on the complete record:
A) To dismiss a request for review as moot or not ready for
adjudication;
B) To approve or disapprove the facility director's decision in
whole or in part;
C) To reverse and remand the facility director's decision in whole
or in part and, in such case, to state the questions requiring further hearing
or proceedings and to give such other instructions as deemed proper;
D) To remand the committee for the purpose of taking additional
evidence when from the state of the record of the hearing, it shall appear that
such is necessary to resolve the issues raised at the hearing.
5) Manner of service of decision
The
Secretary's decision shall be served on the recipient and objector and their attorneys
or representatives, either by personal delivery or by certified first class
mail, addressed to the recipient and objector at his or her last known address
no later than 30 days after the person has submitted the request for the
review.
6) Final administrative decision
The
Secretary's decision shall constitute the Department's final administrative
decision and no application for rehearing will be entertained. The decision is
then reviewable in accordance with the Administrative Review Law.
(Source: Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 10327, effective August 10, 1999)