O.C.G.A. § 31-7-175: Administration of article.

(a) The administration of this article is vested in the Department of Community Health which shall:

(1) Prepare and furnish all forms necessary under the provisions of this article in relation to the application for licensure or renewals thereof;

(2) After consultation with appropriate public interest groups, adopt rules within the standards of this article necessary to effect the purposes of this article; and

(3) Establish comprehensive rules and regulations for the licensure of hospices.

(b) Rules promulgated by the department shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) The qualifications of professional and ancillary personnel in order to furnish adequate hospice care;

(2) Comprehensive standards for the organization and quality of patient care;

(3) Procedures for maintaining records;

(4) Comprehensive standards for inpatient facilities, to include specifications that the hospice retain primary responsibility for the coordination of inpatient hospice care;

(5) Provision for contractual arrangements for professional and ancillary hospice services; and

(6) Provisions for the imposition of administrative fines for any violations of any provisions of this article or of department rules or regulations.