§16-5C-9. Inspections.
The secretary and any duly designated employee or agent shall have the right to enter upon and into the premises of any nursing home at any time for which a license has been issued, for which an application for license has been filed with the secretary, or which the secretary has reason to believe is being operated or maintained as a nursing home without a license. If entry is refused by the owner or person in charge of the nursing home, the secretary may apply to the circuit court of the county in which the nursing home is located or the Circuit Court of Kanawha County for a warrant authorizing inspection to conduct the following inspections:
(1) An initial inspection prior to the issuance of a license pursuant to §16-5C-6 of this code;
(2) A license inspection for a nursing home, which shall be conducted at least once every 15 months, if the nursing home has not applied for and received an exemption from the requirement as provided for in this section;
(3) The secretary, by the secretary’s authorized employees or agents, shall conduct at least one inspection prior to issuance of a license pursuant to §16-5C-6 of this code, and shall conduct periodic unannounced inspections thereafter, to determine compliance by the nursing home with applicable rules promulgated thereunder. All facilities shall comply with regulations of the State Fire Commission. The State Fire Marshal, by his or her employees or authorized agents, shall make all fire, safety, and like inspections. The secretary may provide for such other inspections as the secretary may deem necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this article. Any nursing home aggrieved by a determination or assessment made pursuant to this section, shall have the right to an administrative appeal as set forth in §16-5C-12 of this code;
(4) A complaint inspection based on a complaint received by the secretary. If, after investigation of a complaint, the secretary determines that the complaint is substantiated, the secretary may invoke any applicable remedies available pursuant to §16-5C-11 of this code.
