{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-131e-144.6","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 131E-144.6","heading":"Enforcement and investigation.","body":"(a)\tThe Department of Health and Human Services shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this Part. The Department shall investigate complaints made to it and reply within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 60 days.\n(a1)\tWhen the Department of Health and Human Services receives a complaint alleging a violation of the provisions of this Part pertaining to client care or client safety, the Department shall initiate an investigation as follows:\n(1)\tImmediately upon receipt of the complaint if the complaint alleges a life-threatening situation.\n(2)\tWithin 24 hours if the complaint alleges abuse of a client as defined by G.S. 131D-20(1).\n(3)\tWithin 48 hours if the complaint alleges neglect of a client as defined by G.S. 131D-20(8).\n(4)\tWithin two weeks in all other situations.\nThe investigation shall be completed within 30 days. The requirements of this section are in addition to and not in lieu of any investigatory and reporting requirements for health care personnel pursuant to Article 15 of this Chapter, or for adult protective services pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes.\n(b)\tA home care agency shall investigate, within 72 hours, complaints made to the agency by a home care client or the client's family and must document both the existence of the complaint and the resolution of the complaint. (2005-276, s. 10.40A(n).)","path":["Chapter 131E. Health Care Facilities and Services.","Article 6. Health Care Facility Licensure Act.","Part 3A. Home Care Clients' Bill of Rights."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_131E/GS_131E-144.6.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:21:12Z","sha256":"3d25a1efe96ce5c547b1b06e22c2675f1991718d539493c71049750425a6899a","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-131e-144.5","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-131e-144.7"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}