{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-702.04","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 7-702.04","heading":"Long-Term Care Ombudsman — Powers and duties.","body":"(a)\nThe ombudsman shall:\n(1)\nReceive, investigate, and resolve complaints or concerns made by or on behalf of residents;\n(2)\nPromote the well-being and quality of life of each resident;\n(3)\nEncourage the development and the expansion of the activities of the program in all wards of the District, sufficient to serve the residents in those wards;\n(4)\nBy January 1, 2019, and on an annual basis thereafter, submit the report described in 45 C.F.R. § 1324.13(g);\n(5)\nEnter into, as necessary, written agreements of understanding, cooperation, and collaboration with any District government agency that provides funding, oversight, or inspection of, or operates a long-term care facility;\n(6)\nEstablish and implement program policies and procedures to elicit, receive, investigate, verify, refer, and resolve residents’ complaints;\n(7)\nDevelop an on-going program for publicizing the program;\n(8)\nIdentify, document, and address solutions to problems affecting residents;\n(9)\nServe as the legal representative for residents, pursuant to §§ 44-1003.02(e), 44-1003.03(a)(1), and 44-1003.07(a) and (b);\n(10)\nRepealed.\n(11)\nEstablish a uniform system to record data on complaints and conditions relating to long-term care services;\n(12)\nMonitor, analyze, and make recommendations regarding the development and implementation of District and federal laws, rules, regulations, and other governmental policies and actions pertaining to the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents;\n(13)\nMake specific recommendations to the operator or agent of the operator of any long-term care facility, whenever the ombudsman believes that conditions exist that adversely affect residents' health, safety, welfare, or rights, in accordance with the disclosure requirements set forth in section 712g(d) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, approved September 30, 1992 (106 Stat. 1195; 42 U.S.C. § 3058g(d)), and 45 C.F.R. § 1324.11(e)(3));\n(14)\nReport to the appropriate enforcement agency any act of an operator of a long-term care facility or home care agency that the ombudsman believes to be a violation of an applicable federal or District law, regulation, or rule, in accordance with the disclosure requirements set forth in section 712g(d) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, approved September 30, 1992 (106 Stat. 1195; 42 U.S.C. § 3058g(d)), and 45 C.F.R. § 1324.11(e)(3);\n(15)\nEstablish and conduct a training program for persons employed by or associated with the program, which shall include training in the following areas:\n(A)\nThe review of medical records;\n(B)\nRegulatory requirements for long-term care facilities;\n(C)\nConfidentiality of records;\n(D)\nTechniques of complaint investigation;\n(E)\nThe effects of institutionalization; and\n(F)\nThe special needs of the elderly;\n(16)\nProvide ongoing support as requested by residents and family councils to protect the well-being and rights of residents;\n(17)\nEstablish and maintain procedures to protect the confidentiality of the records of residents and long-term care facilities where access is authorized pursuant to § 7-703.02;\n(18)\nProhibit any employee, designee, or representative of the program from investigating any complaint or representing the ombudsman, unless that person has received training in accordance with paragraph (15) of this subsection;\n(19)\nDesignate local ombudsman programs to act on behalf of the ombudsman within specific geographical areas; and\n(20)\nPerform any other acts required by 45 C.F.R. §§ 1324.13 and 1324.19.\n\n(b)\nNo person, agency, or long-term care facility shall obstruct the ombudsman or his or her designee from the lawful performance of any duty or the exercise of any power.","path":["Title 7. Human Health Care and Safety.","Chapter 7. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.","Subchapter II. Establishment of a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-702.04","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"8e43261fac64a0992a3514bf785c367449fd9d9c0264bc0f0bab471aa68ef630","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-702.03","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-702.05"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}