42 U.S.C. § 3058g
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program
The Office shall be headed by an individual, to be known as the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, who shall be selected from among individuals with expertise and experience in the fields of long-term care and advocacy. The Ombudsman shall be responsible for the management, including the fiscal management, of the Office.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the State agency may establish and operate the Office, and carry out the program, directly, or by contract or other arrangement with any public agency or nonprofit private organization.
In carrying out the duties of the Office, the Ombudsman may designate an entity as a local Ombudsman entity, and may designate an employee or volunteer to represent the entity.
The State agency shall establish, in accordance with the Office, policies and procedures for monitoring local Ombudsman entities designated to carry out the duties of the Office.
In a case in which the entities are grantees, or the representatives are employees, of area agencies on aging, the State agency shall develop the policies in consultation with the area agencies on aging. The policies shall provide for participation and comment by the agencies and for resolution of concerns with respect to case activity.
The State agency shall develop the policies and procedures in accordance with all provisions of this part regarding confidentiality and conflict of interest.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting the program from providing and financially supporting recognition for an individual designated under subparagraph (A) as a volunteer to represent the Ombudsman program, or from reimbursing or otherwise providing financial support to such an individual for any costs, such as transportation costs, incurred by the individual in serving as such volunteer.
The State agency shall establish procedures to ensure the access described in paragraph (1).
For purposes of section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (including regulations issued under that section) (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note), the Ombudsman and a representative of the Office shall be considered a “health oversight agency,” so that release of residents’ individually identifiable health information to the Ombudsman or representative is not precluded in cases in which the requirements of clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B), or the requirements of paragraph (1)(D), are otherwise met.
The State agency shall establish procedures for the disclosure by the Ombudsman or local Ombudsman entities of files, records, and other information maintained by the program, including records described in subsection (b)(1) or (c).
In planning and operating the program, the State agency shall consider the views of area agencies on aging, older individuals, and providers of long-term care.
The State shall ensure that no representative of the Office will be liable under State law for the good faith performance of official duties.
Section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is section 264(c) of Pub. L. 104–191, which is set out as a note under section 1320d–2 of this title.
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(A)(vii), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title XIX of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XIX (§ 1396 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, referred to in subsec. (h)(7)(A), is Pub. L. 106–402,
The Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986, referred to in subsec. (h)(7)(B), was Pub. L. 99–319,
2020—Subsec. (a)(5)(E). Pub. L. 116–131 added subpar. (E).
2016—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(1)(A), inserted at end “The Ombudsman shall be responsible for the management, including the fiscal management, of the Office.”
Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(1)(B)(i), added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “are made by, or on behalf of, residents; and”.
Subsec. (a)(3)(D). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(1)(B)(ii), substituted “regular, timely, private, and unimpeded” for “regular and timely”.
Subsec. (a)(3)(H)(iii). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(1)(B)(iii), inserted “, actively encourage, and assist in” after “provide technical support for” and struck out “and” after semicolon at end.
Subsec. (a)(3)(I), (J). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(1)(B)(iv), (v), added subpar. (I) and redesignated former subpar. (I) as (J).
Subsec. (a)(5)(B)(vi). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(1)(C)(i), inserted “, actively encourage, and assist in” after “support” and struck out “and” after semicolon at end.
Subsec. (a)(5)(B)(vii), (viii). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(1)(C)(ii), (iii), added cl. (vii) and redesignated former cl. (vii) as (viii).
Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(2)(A)(i), substituted “private and unimpeded access” for “access”.
Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(2)(A)(ii)(I)(aa), substituted “all files, records, and other information concerning” for “the medical and social records of” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(i)(II). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(2)(A)(ii)(I)(bb), substituted “to communicate consent” for “to consent”.
Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(2)(A)(ii)(II), substituted “the files, records, and information” for “the records” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(2)(B), added par. (3).
Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(3), substituted “3012(a)(18)” for “3012(a)(21)”.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(4)(A), substituted “files, records, and other information” for “files”.
Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(4)(B)(i), substituted “files, records, and other information” for “files and records” in two places and struck out “and” after semicolon at end.
Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(4)(B)(ii)(I), substituted “files, records, or other information” for “files or records” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(4)(B)(ii)(II), (iii), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(5), added subsec. (f) and struck out former subsec. (f) which related to conflict of interest.
Subsec. (h)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(A), struck out “older” before “individuals”.
Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(D), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).
Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(B), substituted “(4) strengthen and update” for text that had been amended by Pub. L. 106–501, § 704(2)(A), which was executed to read “(4) strengthen and update”. See 2000 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (h)(5), (6). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(C), redesignated pars. (4) and (5) as (5) and (6), respectively. Former par. (6) redesignated (7).
Subsec. (h)(6)(A). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(E), substituted “paragraph (5)” for “paragraph (4)”.
Subsec. (h)(7). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(C), redesignated par. (6) as (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (8).
Subsec. (h)(7)(A). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(F), substituted “subtitle C of title I of the” for “subtitle C of the”.
Subsec. (h)(8), (9). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(C), redesignated pars. (7) and (8) as (8) and (9), respectively. Former par. (9) redesignated (10).
Subsec. (h)(10). Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(G), substituted “(7), or (8)” for “(6), or (7)”.
Pub. L. 114–144, § 8(c)(6)(C), redesignated par. (9) as (10).
2000—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 106–501, § 801(e)(2), substituted “section 3058a of this title and made available to carry out this subpart” for “section 3058a(a) of this title” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(5)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 106–501, § 704(1), inserted “and not stand to gain financially through an action or potential action brought on behalf of individuals the Ombudsman serves” after “interest”.
Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 106–501, § 704(2)(A), substituted “strengthen and update” for “(A) not later than 1 year after
Subsec. (h)(6)(A). Pub. L. 106–402 substituted “subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000” for “part A of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.)”.
Subsec. (h)(8), (9). Pub. L. 106–501, § 704(2)(B)–(D), added par. (8) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9).
1993—Subsecs. (a)(3)(I), (c)(2)(C), (h)(3)(B). Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(9)(B), substituted “Assistant Secretary” for “Commissioner”.
Subsec. (h)(4)(A). Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(9)(A), substituted “Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs” for “Associate Commissioner for Ombudsman Programs”.
Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(9)(B), substituted “Assistant Secretary” for “Commissioner”.
Section inapplicable with respect to fiscal year 1993, see section 4(b) of Pub. L. 103–171, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 3001 of this title.
Section inapplicable with respect to fiscal year 1992, see section 905(b)(6) of Pub. L. 102–375, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 3001 of this title.