(a) A limited services rural hospital (LSRH) that is not offering services under its license shall immediately inform the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). HHSC may automatically close an LSRH facility if the facility does not offer services for more than 60 days, unless the facility sends a written request to place the license on inactive status.      
        (1) To be eligible for inactive status, an LSRH must be in good standing with no pending enforcement action or investigation.       
        (2) The licensee is responsible for any license renewal requirements or fees, and for proper maintenance of patient records, while the license is inactive.       
        (3) A license may not remain inactive for more than 60 calendar days without an approved extension from HHSC.       
        (4) To reactivate the license, the LSRH must inform HHSC no later than 60 calendar days after the LSRH stopped offering services under its license.       
        (5) An LSRH that does not reactivate its license by the 60th calendar day may request an extension of the inactive status from HHSC through a written request.       
        (6) If by the 60th calendar day after it stopped offering services, the LSRH does not reactivate its license or request an extension for inactive status, HHSC may consider the facility closed.       
      (b) An LSRH shall notify HHSC, in writing in accordance with HHSC instructions, before closure of the facility.      
        (1) The LSRH shall dispose of medical records in accordance with §511.67 of this chapter (relating to Medical Records).       
        (2) The LSRH shall appropriately discharge or transfer all patients before the facility closes.       
        (3) A license becomes invalid when an LSRH closes. The facility shall return the licensure certificate to HHSC immediately after the LSRH closes.       
      (c) An LSRH that closes, or for which a license issued under this chapter expires or is suspended or revoked, shall immediately remove or cause to be removed any signs within view of the general public indicating that the facility is in operation.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §511.14 adopted to be effective October 5, 2023, 48 TexReg 5668