(a) The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Abuse--The negligent or willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment, including pain or sexual abuse, that adversely affects the physical, mental, or emotional welfare of a patient.
  (2) Exploitation--The use of a patient's resources for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain without the informed consent of the patient.
  (3) Illegal conduct--Conduct prohibited by law.
  (4) Neglect--The failure to provide goods or services that are necessary to avoid adversely affecting the physical, mental, or emotional welfare of a patient.
  (5) Unethical conduct--Conduct prohibited by the ethical standards adopted by state or national professional organizations for their respective professions or by rules established by the state licensing agency for the respective profession.
  (6) Unprofessional conduct--Conduct prohibited under rules adopted by the state licensing agency for the respective profession.
(b) The facility or a person associated with a facility, including an employee, volunteer, health care professional, or other person, shall immediately report all incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and any other appropriate regulatory agency. This includes any information that would reasonably cause a person to believe that an incident of abuse, neglect, or exploitation has occurred, is occurring, or will occur.
(c) A person associated with a facility, including an employee, volunteer, health care professional, or other person, who reasonably believes or knows of information that would reasonably cause a person to believe the facility, a facility employee, or a health care professional associated with the facility, has, is, or will be engaged in conduct that is or might be illegal, unprofessional, or unethical and that relates to the operation of the facility shall report the information as soon as possible to HHSC or to the appropriate state health care regulatory agency.
(d) A facility shall prominently and conspicuously post for display a statement of the duty to report abuse, neglect, exploitation, illegal conduct, unethical conduct, or unprofessional conduct.
  (1) The display shall be posted in a public area of the facility and shall be readily visible to patients, residents, volunteers, employees, and visitors.
  (2) The statement shall be in English and in a second language as appropriate to the demographic makeup of the community served.
  (3) The statement shall contain the contact information for HHSC Complaint and Incident Intake.

Source Note: The provisions of this §509.61 adopted to be effective December 4, 2023, 48 TexReg 7064