(a) An applicant may request that HHSC, before conducting an on-site health inspection, issue an initial license for a Type B facility and an Alzheimer's certification for the facility or a distinct unit of the facility. The applicant must meet the requirements of §553.25 of this subchapter (relating to Initial License for a Type A or Type B Facility for an Applicant in Good Standing) for the initial license and the requirements of this section for certification of the facility or unit.
(b) An applicant must request certification by submitting forms prescribed by HHSC via the online portal and include full payment of applicable fees described in §553.47 of this subchapter (relating to License Fees).
(c) An applicant that makes a request in accordance with subsection (a) of this section is not required to admit a resident to the facility or unit or have the on-site health inspection described in §553.23(f) of this subchapter (relating to Initial License Application Procedures and Requirements) before HHSC certifies the facility or unit if HHSC determines that the applicant is in good standing:
  (1) for the issuance of an initial license of the facility in accordance with §553.25(c) of this subchapter; and
  (2) for certification of the facility or unit in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.
(d) An applicant is in good standing to obtain certification of a facility or unit if:
  (1) for at least six consecutive years before applying for certification:
    (A) the applicant has been:
      (i) the license holder for an Alzheimer's certified facility in Texas or a facility in Texas that has an Alzheimer's certified unit; or
      (ii) a controlling person of the license holder for an Alzheimer's certified facility in Texas or a facility in Texas that has an Alzheimer's certified unit; or
    (B) a controlling person of the applicant has been:
      (i) the license holder for an Alzheimer's certified facility in Texas or a facility in Texas that has an Alzheimer's certified unit; or
      (ii) a controlling person of the license holder for an Alzheimer's certified facility in Texas or a facility in Texas that has an Alzheimer's certified unit;
  (2) each licensed facility operated by the applicant or the controlling person has not had a violation or sanction described in §553.25(c)(2) of this subchapter; and
  (3) each licensed facility operated by the applicant or the controlling person has had no more than two violations listed in §553.267(a) of this chapter (relating to Rights) during the six-year period immediately before the applicant applied for certification.
(e) For purposes of subsection (d)(3) of this section, a facility has a violation if:
  (1) the applicant or controlling person operating the facility did not challenge the violation;
  (2) a final determination on the violation is pending; or
  (3) the violation was upheld.
(f) An applicant that makes a request in accordance with subsection (a) of this section must submit to HHSC for approval via the online portal:
  (1) the applicant's policies and procedures required by Subchapter F of this chapter (relating to Additional Licensing Standards for Certified Alzheimer's Assisted Living Facilities); and
  (2) documentation demonstrating that the applicant is complying with Subchapter F of this chapter and §553.257(b)of this chapter (relating to Human Resources).
(g) HHSC certifies a facility or unit after an applicant makes a request in accordance with subsection (a) of this section if HHSC determines that the applicant:
  (1) meets the good standing requirements described in §553.25(c) of this subchapter and subsection (d) of this section;
  (2) has submitted information in accordance with subsection (f) of this section; and
  (3) is in compliance with:
    (A) §553.27 of this subchapter (relating to Certification of a Type B Facility or Unit for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders); and
    (B) §553.311 of this chapter (relating to Physical Plant Requirements for Alzheimer's Units).
(h) HHSC conducts an on-site health inspection to determine if the facility or unit meets the requirements of Subchapter F of this chapter within 90 days after the date HHSC certifies a facility or unit in accordance with subsection (g) of this section. During each on-site health inspection, HHSC observes the provision of care to at least one resident who has been admitted to the facility or unit.
(i) Until a facility or unit that is issued a certification under this section meets the requirements of the on-site health inspection described in subsection (h) of this section, the facility must attach a written addendum to the disclosure statement required by §553.307(a) of this chapter (relating to Admission Procedures, Assessment, and Service Plan) to notify a resident or a prospective resident that the facility or unit has not met the requirements of the on-site health inspection. At a minimum, the addendum must state that:
  (1) the facility or unit has not met the requirements of an initial on-site health inspection for Alzheimer's certification; and
  (2) HHSC conducts an on-site health inspection for Alzheimer's certification within 90 days after the date of certification.
(j) To obtain certification of a unit in a Type B facility that is already licensed, a license holder must comply with §553.27 of this subchapter.

Source Note: The provisions of this §553.29 adopted to be effective August 31, 2021, 46 TexReg 5017