South Carolina              
Administrative Law Court
Edgar A. Brown building 1205 Pendleton St., Suite 224 Columbia, SC 29201 Voice: (803) 734-0550

SC Administrative Law Court Decisions

CAPTION:
The Mahogany Tree Respite Care Retreat vs. DHEC

AGENCY:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

PARTIES:
Petitioner:
The Mahogany Tree Respite Care Retreat

Respondent:
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
 
DOCKET NUMBER:
03-ALJ-07-0317-CC

APPEARANCES:
Dennis L. Gibbs, Director
Division of Health Licensing

Nancy L. Roberts
Attorney for Health Regulation

Emily D. Washington, Licensee/Administrator
The Mahogany Tree Respite Care Retreat
 

ORDERS:

CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER

STIPULATIONS OF FACT

1.The Mahogany Tree, Inc. has been and is the holder of a license to operate the Mahogany

Tree Respite Care Retreat (Facility) issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (Department) pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. Section 44-7-110 et seq. (2002). The Mahogany Tree Respite Care Retreat, located in Columbia, South Carolina has a licensed capacity of five (5) beds.

The Department notified The Mahogany Tree Respite Care Retreat by letter dated June 25, 2003, that it was imposing a $7,4000 monetary penalty for violations of S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 61-84, Standard for licensing Community Residential Care Facilities (Supp. 2002). The letter advised that this determination would become final thirty days from the date of this letter unless during such thirty (30) day period a written letter of appeal requesting a contested case hearing under S.C. Code Ann. Section 44-7-320 (B) (2002) and Rules of Procedure for the Administrative Law Judge Division was submitted.

2.By undated letter received by the Clerk of the Board on July 23, 2003, the facility

requested a contested case hearing.

3.Prior to proceeding to the administrative hearing, Ms. Washington withdrew her request

for a contested case hearing. Ms. Washington also asked to meet with Department representatives. The parties met on September 12, 2003. Ms. Washington informed the Department that she had voluntarily closed the facility as of September 1, 2003.

THEREFORE IT IS AGREED

1.To complete the requirements necessitated by the closure of the facility on September 1,

2003, the facility will submit to the Department, within ten days of execution of this Order, the following:

A. The date each resident (include resident name) was appropriately transferred;

B. The location to which each resident was transferred;

C. Documentation that each resident received their personal spending monies (as appropriate), refund (as appropriate), their personal possessions, and their medications(s) (as appropriate);

D. Documentation that a transfer summary was sent along with each resident transferred to another licensed facility;

E. The last license issued for this facility to operate as a community residential care facility.

2.In consideration of the fact that the Licensee has agreed to voluntarily close this location

as a licensed community residential care facility, the Department agrees to suspend $6,900 of the $7,400 monetary penalty. The facility agrees to submit payment of the $500 monetary penalty to the Department within thirty days of the execution of this Order. Payment is to be check or money order payable to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Payment is to be sent to the following address:

Attention: Earl Bleakly

Division of Health Licensing

S.C. Department of Health and Environmental

2600 Bull Street

Columbia, SC 29201

3.If the Licensee or its agents are found to be operating an unlicensed facility at this

location or anywhere in the State of South Carolina during the twelve months following execution of this Order, the Department may require payment of all or part of the suspended portion of the assessed penalty and /or may impose an additional penalty payable to the Department pursuant to §44-7-320 (C.)(2002), and the Licensee or its agents shall immediately pay to the department the assessed penalty.

AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

___________________________________September 16, 2003

CAROLYN C. MATTHEWS

Administrative Law Judge


 

 

 

 

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