This rule was
filed as New Mexico Veterans Center Policy No. 0, Mission Statement, No.1,
Governing Body and Administration, No. 2, Organization, No. 3, Equal
Opportunity and Civil Rights, No. 4, Establishment of Policy and Procedure, No.
5, Code of Conduct, No. 6, Admission Requirements, No. 7, Care and Maintenance
Charges, No. 8, Nepotism.
TITLE 7 HEALTH
CHAPTER 25 STATE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
PART 10 NEW MEXICO VETERANS CENTER POLICY
7.25.10.1 ISSUING AGENCY: Veterans
Service Commission, New Mexico Veterans Center.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.2 SCOPE:
[RESERVED]
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
[RESERVED]
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.4 DURATION:
[RESERVED]
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.5 EFFECTIVE DATE:
[RESERVED]
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.6 OBJECTIVE:
[RESERVED]
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.7 DEFINITIONS:
[RESERVED]
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.8 MISSION STATEMENT:
A. It is the mission of the New Mexico veterans center to
provide the highest quality of nursing and domiciliary services to veterans
honorably discharged from the United States armed services and who are disabled
by age, disease, or otherwise and by reason of such disability are incapable of
earning a living. The center supports
the principle of prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, color or
national origin.
B. The ultimate aim of the facility is to create and
maintain an environment of friendliness, warmth and understanding between
residents and staff and to provide a community where aging and disabled
veterans can live out their lives in comfort and dignity. Service provided by the center includes
medical and twenty-four hour nursing care; physical therapy; occupational
therapy; social services; housekeeping services; dietary services; recreation
services; and spiritual comfort.
C. The center recognizes that the needs of the disabled
veterans are not static, and thus each person served must receive comprehensive
recurring assessments as his or her needs change. A number of different staff specialists are employed to provide
assessments and can furnish medical diagnosis; assessment of health status;
nutritional assessment; rehabilitative assessment and social assessment.
D. Since the New Mexico veterans center is the only facility
of its type in New Mexico, we must be aware of the needs of veterans throughout
the state, and the resources that exist in each area. In addition, we can be looked upon as a resource center for
assisting veterans and families of veterans.
We will work closely with other providers in the public and private
sector to achieve a continuum of appropriate services. We will continue to develop relationships
with schools of higher education in New Mexico and support and participate in
training and research activities that increase the body of knowledge in
long-term care facilities.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.9 GOVERNING BODY AND
ADMINISTRATION:
A. Purpose: To
define the ultimate responsibility of the veterans service commission in
relationship to the administrator and the New Mexico veterans center.
B. Policy: It shall
be the policy of the New Mexico veterans center, in accordance with New Mexico
Statutes Annotated, 1978 Compilation, Section 23-4-1 through 23-4-2, that the
center shall be under the control of the New Mexico veterans service commision
which shall appoint an executive director for the center. The executive director shall appoint, subject
to the provisions of the State Personnel Act, such personnel as may be
necessary for the efficient performance of the duties prescribed in Sections
23-4-1 through 23-4-4.1, NMSA 1978 Compilation.
C. Governing body responsibilities:
(1) Appointing an executive director as the
official representative of the governing body and formalizing responsibilities
and authority of the administration.
(2) Adopting a statement of the facility's
missions and objectives to include the types of services to be offered.
(3) Adopting, reviewing and revising policies
describing the organization of the facility and establishing authority and
responsibility.
(4) Adopting effective administrative and
resident care policies designed to assure maintenance of professional
standards.
(5) Designating veterans service commission
officers and their duties. This will
include scheduling of meetings, attendance requirements, and recording minutes.
(6) Providing
for regular attendance at committee meetings by the administrator or his
designee and providing for submission of regular reports to the governing body.
(7) Providing a physical plant, equipment,
and staff appropriate to the needs of residents.
(8) Approving annual budgets that reflect and
carry out the objectives of the facility.
(9) Assuring that the facility is licensed
and certified by the appropriate agencies, and that all facility personnel meet
the legal requirements of licensing, certification, or requisition of their
occupations in accordance with federal, state, and local requirements.
D. Administrator's responsibilities:
(1) Adopting and enforcing rules, regulations, and procedures
concerning the health care and safety of residents and the protection of their
personal and property rights.
(2) Appointing a designee to act in his
absence so that administrative direction is provided at all times.
(3) Establishing and implementing the
resident care policies, personnel policies, and other policies of the facility.
(4) Maintaining a file of any incident report
to include the time, date, and nature of the incident, the circumstances
involved, the action taken, any other information considered essential, and
insure that each report is dated and signed.
(5) Evaluating and implementing, if feasible,
any recommendations from the facility's committees and consultants.
(6) Managing the on-going functions of the
facility by employing adequate numbers of appropriately trained staff and
auxiliary personnel and delegating duties appropriately.
(7) Providing that the volunteer program is
planned and supervised by a designated individual, and that volunteers are
given a thorough orientation to the facility and its objectives, services,
staff, routines and limitations.
(8) Delegating responsibility for discharge
planning to one or more individuals of the facility's staff.
(9) Maintaining on-going liaison with the
governing body and with the medical, nursing, and other professional and
supervisory staff through regularly scheduled meetings and periodic reports.
(10) Attending continuing education institutes
and workshops are required by state licensing requirements.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.10 ORGANIZATION:
A. Purpose: To outline the basic organization of the New
Mexico veterans center; establish lines of authority and responsibility for all
personnel; and define often used terms.
See attached organizational chart and description of structure.
B. Definition:
(1) Administrator: Exercises overall
supervision, responsibility, and direction of the facility. He is directly responsible to the veterans
service commission.
(2) Assistant administrator: Assists the
administrator in providing overall supervision, responsibility, and direction
of the facility. He assumes the duties
of the administrator in his absence.
(3) Division: Major organizational component
comprising of one or more departments.
The division head exercises overall supervision and is responsible for
all activities within that division.
(4) Department: Lesser organization component
comprised by major function or mission.
The department head is responsible for the supervision and operation of
his department and reports to his respective division head.
(5) Section: Next lower organizational
element under a department. An area may
also be considered a section. The
section chief reports to the unit department head.
C. Organizational structure:
(1) The purpose of the attached
organizational chart is to establish clear lines of authority and
responsibility in order to achieve accountability for program and
administrative services. The chart
reflects the major divisions responsible to the administrator and the sections
and departments reporting to the division heads.
(2) Individual division heads have sole
responsibility for the operation of their respective divisions. Activities, functions and roles of personnel
assigned, and the administration of the respective departments assigned will be
the responsibility of the division head.
Problems which occur involving more than one division will first be
defined by the respective heads, and a method of solving the problem arrived
between them. On occasions where
solutions cannot be reached, the administrator will determine the solution, and
the division heads will implement such decisions.
(3) Division heads shall establish written
numbered procedures for the individual functions under his/her direct
supervision and will review and update such procedures annually. Division heads will establish methods of
monitoring his/her division's functions according to regulations and standards
of the joint commission on accreditation of hospitals (JCAH) and intermediate
care facilities (ICF). Divisions who
have responsibility for additional standards for compliance, i.e., Occupational
Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Life Safety Code, American national standards
institute (ANSI), etc., will establish guidelines and monitoring procedures for
these responsibilities. In addition,
each division head will establish and maintain organizational and functional
role descriptions and supervisory relationships to be approved by the
administrator.
D. Responsibilities: In accordance with this organizational
concept, the following management practices apply:
(1) The director of
medical services reports to the administrator and is fully responsible for
maintaining the general health conditions and medical practices of the facility. He is responsible for assuring that the
quality of medical services and health care is in comformity with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, rules, and
policies. He is responsible for
assigning, directing, and evaluating the performance of the staff assigned to
his division; for making appropriate medical services available at all times to
the residents; for planning, preparing and controlling the division's
inter-disciplinary team approach to active treatment; and for maintaining
communication with the other divisions and with the administrator.
(2) The nursing services department reports
to the director of medical services and is responsible for providing medical
and health care needs for the residents on a twenty-four hour, seven-day per
week basis. Training will be provided
for staff on an on-going basis. The
department will insure that residents are provided with rehabilitative nursing
care, and that residents are kept comfortable, clean, neat, and well groomed.
(3) The rehabilitation services department
reports to the medical services director and is responsible for providing a
variety of activities, both inside and outside the facility, to provide
recreational, social, educational, creative, and spiritual activities for all
residents. Residents will be encouraged
to participate in community activities, both independently and as planned
activities. A full array of physical
therapy, occupational therapy, and recreational services will be provided.
(4) The director of administrative services
reports to the administrator and is responsible for the activities of the
following departments: personnel, fiscal, maintenance, and food services. He is responsible for maintaining adequate,
modern administrative support to efficiently meet the needs of, and contribute
to the program services for the residents.
He is responsible for seeing that the division's practices are in
comformity with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules,
regulations, codes, and policies. He is
responsible for maintaining clean and sanitary surroundings at all times.
(5) The director of administrative services
is also responsible for maintaining an efficient system of laundry services to
all of the resident and support areas.
He is responsible for establishing and maintaining a program which fully
meets the day-to-day nutritional needs of the resident. He is responsible for assuring adequate and
modern accounting for all receipts and expenditures.
(6) The director of
administrative services is also responsible for the overall preparation and
monitoring of the institution's budget and for communicating orally and in written
form to all divisions and sections regarding budget status. He is responsible for sound leave practices
and for an on-going evaluation of staff leave status at all levels. He is responsible for all purchasing and
property control procedures.
(7) The maintenance department head reports
to the director of administrative services and is responsible for the general
maintenance of the grounds and roadways, buildings, and structures, maintenance
of vehicles and oversees the housekeeping operations. The director is charged with providing a safe and accessible
environment for residents and staff and assuring that good maintenance
practices are followed. Maintenance of
the facility will include remodeling, replacement, repair or deletion of
facility structures, materials and machinery as required, while assuring that
such remodeling, repair or deletions are necessary for the benefit of the
residents. The director will comply
with the New Mexico Uniform Building Code, ANSI, Standards of ICF/MR, Fire
Code, and all state, federal, local building requirements. All work performed at the facility will be
based on 504 accessibility criteria and will conform to a high standard of
product selection. In addition, the
director of the division will prepare all necessary reports on energy usage;
preventative maintenance, budget and inventory utilization as required by the
administrator. Recruitment of staff
will be based on the needs of the facility, availability of funds, and the
specialties or trades required for the efficient operation of the facility.
(8) The personnel
director reports to the director of administrative services and is responsible
for the day-to-day operation of the personnel department and in-service
training. The director will be
responsible for the overall monitoring of the employees of the facility in
terms of evaluation, promotion, and compliance with state personnel board rules
and Title VI, Section 504, and applicable laws and contracts. The director will provide current and valid data
on a day-to-day basis on the status of the employees of the facility in terms
of vacancy, promotion, transfer, and termination and performance
evaluation. In addition, he will
initiate special studies periodically to determine absenteeism, educational
achievement, turnover rates, and other areas related to personnel. The director will assure smooth and
efficient handling of all personnel actions; constantly cooperating with other
divisions, departments, and units of the facility in defining and resolving
personnel related problems. Each year
in the preparation of budget requests, the director will provide a current and
accurate listing of all positions in conjunction with, or as part of, the
overall budget request. In-service
training (basic orientation) will be provided to all new employees prior to the
employee reporting to the work station.
On-going training needs will be assessed and provided as needed, in
cooperation with other facility staff and departments.
(9) The food services director reports
directly to the director of administrator services and is responsible for the
dietary, nutritional and food services operations. Dietetic services will meet the nutritional, therapeutic,
psychosocial, and special dietary needs of the residents. Food will be served in an attractive manner,
at the proper temperature, and will meet the individual needs of the residents.
(10) The fiscal director reports directly to
the administrative services director and is responsible for the facility budget
and expenditures, maintenance of accurate accounting procedures, payroll,
supplies, and purchasing procedures. He
will insure that accounts receivable and accounts payable are accurate and
reflect the correct accounting procedures as directed by the state of New
Mexico.
(11) The medical director will report directly
to the administrator. His
responsibilities will consist of assuring that all residents receive proper
medical care by a licensed physician, developing procedures for handling
medical emergencies and transfers to other health care facilities as necessary,
monitoring the health status of employees, consulting in the development and
maintenance of an adequate medical record system and advising the administrator
regarding the scope and appropriateness of medical services for residents, the
facility's equipment, and its support staff.
(12) The medical records administrator reports
directly to the administrator and will be responsible for assuring that the medical
records are complete, readily accessible, and systematically diagnosed to
facilitate retrieval and the compilation of information. In addition, he is responsible for
maintaining the security and confidentiality of records and assuring that only
authorized personnel have access to them.
(13) The social services director reports
directly to the assistant administrator and is responsible for providing
services necessary to identify and meet the psychological needs of all residents. He will be responsible for participating in
resident care management by being a part of the multi-disciplinary team,
assessing the residents' psychosocial needs and assisting in developing a
multidisciplinary plan of care for each resident. Social services provides the liaison between the resident, his
family, the community, and the facility.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.11 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS:
A. Purpose: To
assure full compliance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations in
relation to non-discrimination and civil rights.
B. Policy: It shall be
the policy of the New Mexico veterans center, in accordance with New Mexico
Statutes Annotated, 1978 Compilation, Section 28-1-7, that:
(1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice
for an employee, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification, to
refuse to hire, to discharge, to promote or demote, or to discriminate in
matters of compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against
any person otherwise qualified because of race, age, religion, color, national
origin, ancestry, sex, or physical or mental handicap.
(2) Furthermore, the facility subscribes to
the requirements and intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age
Discrimination Act of 1967, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
(3) If an employee feels he has been
discriminated, he may elect to contact the human rights commission in Santa
Fe. An employee filing a charge of
discrimination based on any area of illegal or unlawful discrimination is protected
from any type of reprisal. Any employee
may freely file an allegation of discrimination and be assured of full and fair
consideration of that complaint.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.12 ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICY AND
PROCEDURE:
A. Purpose: To provide
guidance and direction for establishment of center policy and procedure.
B. Background: New Mexico Statutes Annotated, 1978
Compilation, Section 28-13-5, provide that the veterans service commission, as
part of their powers and duties, shall make rules and regulations as may be
necessary. As part of the duties of the
administrator, he shall establish procedures to carry out the policies of the
commission.
C. Definitions:
(1) Policy: The overall plan embracing the
general goals and objectives of the facility.
(2) Procedure: A particular method for
carrying out the policy of the facility.
D. Policy: It shall be the policy of the New Mexico veterans
center that only the veterans service commission can establish policy. Policy must be formally adopted by the
Commission at a public meeting and signed off by the commission chairman.
(1) Any section which implies a new policy or
procedure or a change in an existing policy or procedure shall be referred to
the administrator. He shall have it
formalized in writing, and, if necessary, submitted to the veterans service
commission for approval.
(2) All facility procedures will be signed by
and issued from the office of the administrator.
(3) Each division and department will develop
written procedure manuals for their respective areas.
(4) All procedures and policies shall be
reviewed at least annually by the veterans service commission and the
administrator.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.13 CODE OF CONDUCT:
A. Purpose: To prescribe a code of conduct for the New
Mexico Veterans Center in accordance with New Mexico Statutes Annotated, 1978
Compilation, Section 10-16-11.
B. Policy: It shall be the policy of the New Mexico veterans
center that a code of conduct for employees shall be established and shall be
required reading by all employees.
C. General requirements:
(1) Each employee shall be expected to serve
diligently, loyally, and cooperatively; to exercise courtesy and dignity; and
to conduct himself, both on and off duty, in a manner reflecting credit upon
himself and the New Mexico veterans center.
(2) An employee shall avoid any action which
might result in, or create the appearance of:
(a) using public office for private gain;
(b) giving preferential treatment to any
person, group, or organization;
(c)
impeding state government efficiency or economy;
(d) losing complete independence or
impartiality;
(e) making a state government decision
outside official channels.
(3) An employee shall not attempt to
accomplish indirectly - through his immediate family or otherwise any activity which he is prohibited from
doing directly.
(4) Employees shall not discriminate on the
grounds of race, age, religion, ancestry, color, sex, or national origin in
providing services. They shall not
discriminate on those grounds or any other improper ground in any employment
matter. Employees are responsible to
cooperate in making equal opportunity for all a reality in the New Mexico
veterans center.
(5) The veterans service commission and the
administrator shall encourage the good conduct of employees by setting the
example, by dealing with them considerately and impartially, and by showing
sincere concern for them as individuals.
D. Financial interests:
(1) An employee shall not have a direct or
indirect financial interest that conflicts substantially, or appears to
conflict substantially, with his state government duties and responsibilities.
(2) An employee shall not engage, directly or
indirectly, in a financial transaction as a result of or primarily relying on,
information obtained through his state employment.
E. Use of state government property:
(1) Each employee shall protect and conserve
state government property, including equipment, supplies, and other property
entrusted or issued to him.
(2) An employee shall not willfully damage or
otherwise misuse state government property, including vehicles, equipment,
tools, and instruments.
F. Disclosure or misuse of information:
(1) An employee shall not, directly or
indirectly, use for the purpose of furthering a private interest, or allow such
use of, official information obtained through or in connection with his state
employment which has not been made available to the general public.
(2) An employee shall not, except as
specifically authorized, disclose any official information which represents a
matter of confidence or trust or any other official information of such
character that its disclosure or use would be contrary to the best interest of
the state, the veterans service commission, or the veterans being served by the
New Mexico veterans center.
G. I hereby certify that I have read the above code of
conduct in its entirety, and as an employee of the New Mexico veterans service
commission state of New Mexico, I further certify that I have complied with
every action of the above code of conduct and have no conflict of interest in
any manner with the above.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.14 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
A. Purpose: To establish policy and procedures relating to
admission requirements to the New Mexico veterans center.
B. Background: The New Mexico veterans center was
established by the New Mexico legislature to provide residential services to
veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States. These services provide for the highest
quality of nursing care along with a safe environment which will give the
veteran a sense of well‑being and dignity in his or her remaining years
and to rehabilitate him or her to his or her highest potential.
C. Policy: It shall be the policy of the New Mexico veterans
center, in accordance with New Mexico Statutes Annotated, 1978 Compilation,
Section 23-4-3, that:
(1) Occupancy in the center shall be only for
veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States who have served at
least ninety days of active duty during a period of war or who have served
under conditions comparable thereto, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted
by the New Mexico veterans service commission.
The following requirements for admission and continued occupancy shall
prevail:
(a) release or separation from the service
with an honorable discharge; and
(b) residency in New Mexico at the time of
entering the armed forces, or in the alternative, residing in the state for
five or more of the nine years immediately preceding the date of application.
(2) Whenever a law, rule or regulation of the
veterans administration of the federal government or any other law permits the
state to receive federal funds for the use and benefit of the center, upon
acceptance of a veteran of the armed forces of the United States not meeting
the requirements of Subsection A of this section [now Subsection A of
7.25.10.14 NMAC], the New Mexico veterans service commission may adopt rules
and regulations to authorize such veteran's acceptance.
(3) Preference and priority in admission
shall be granted to New Mexico veterans in accordance with the laws of New
Mexico.
(4) If there are vacant beds available,
veterans of other states shall then be allowed admission, provided they have
been separated from the service with an honorable discharge.
D. Levels of care:
(1) Domiciliary: Residents should possess
self-help skills, e.g., dressing, feeding, and bathing self; require no
hospital care or nursing care; not be acutely ill; and should not be a danger
to self or others.
(2)
Nursing: Residents may be ambulatory or non-ambulatory; may require
assistance with self-help skills; require immediate nursing care; and should
not be a danger to self or others.
(3) Residents admitted should be free of
communicable diseases as determined by the center medical director or
physician.
E. Procedure:
(1) An approved application from, including
biographical data, establishing eligibility.
Applicants must include evidence of military service in the form of an
honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States (DD-124 or
equivalent document.)
(2) An agreement for payment of fees where
applicable.
(3) A physical examination by a physician
licensed to practice in New Mexico.
(4) An agreement to abide by the rules and
regulations of the Center.
F. All applicants will be reviewed by the admissions
committee consisting of the administrator, medical director, director of
nurses, social worker, and medical records administrator, who shall determine
eligibility and appropriateness of admission.
Applicants will promptly be notified of the findings of the committee,
and if approved and a vacancy exists, the applicant will be invited for
admission. Should a vacancy not exist,
the applicant will be placed on a waiting list and advised in writing of the
delay to be expected.
G. Should the applicant disagree with the review of the
admissions committee, he or she may appeal the findings to the veterans service
commission, who shall review the decision of the committee.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.15 CARE AND MAINTENANCE CHARGES:
A. Purpose: To
establish policy and procedures relating to the scope and care offered and the
maintenance charges for service.
B. Background: Although the state of New Mexico and the
veterans administration pay for the majority of costs of care, it is necessary
for the center to charge residents for services in order to provide the full
range of services offered. These
charges shall be based upon total income of the residents and based on their
ability to pay.
C. Policy: It shall be the policy of the New Mexico veterans
center, in accordance with the New Mexico Statutes Annotated, 1978 Compilation,
Section 23-4-4, that:
(1) Patients of the New Mexico veterans
center shall be assessed a monthly care and maintenance charge based upon the
level of care provided to them and their individual ability to pay. The claim of the state for such care and
treatment shall constitute a valid indebtedness against any such patient and
his estate shall not be barred by any statute of limitations. At the death of the patient, this claim
shall be allowed and paid as other lawful claims against the estate.
(2) Nursing care charge and scope of services
provided:
(a) The charge for nursing care of patients
shall be set by the veterans service commission.
(b)
Nursing care shall include room and board in the nursing care section of
the veterans center and the full range of medical and nursing services offered
in-house at the center. Medical and
nursing services shall minimally include: staff physician services,
intermediate nursing care, all required medications and their administration,
all necessary x-ray and laboratory services which are performed by the center,
and all required therapy performed by the center. Nursing care does not include those medical or other services
which a patient requires or receives beyond those provided within or by the
center, personal discretionary use items, such as tobacco or the purchase or
laundry of street clothes.
(3) Domiciliary care charge and scope of
services provided:
(a) The charge for domiciliary care to
patients shall be set by the veterans service commission.
(b) Domiciliary care shall include room and
board in the domiciliary section of the veterans center and limited medical
care services offered by the center.
Medical services shall minimally include staff physician services, all
required medications, all necessary x-ray and laboratory services which are
performed by the center, and all required therapy performed by the center. Domiciliary care does not include
intermediate nursing care, administration of medications, required medical or
other services not performed by the center, personal discretionary use items,
such as tobacco or the purchase or laundry of street clothes.
(4) Care and maintenance charge adjustments
and exclusions:
(a) Care and maintenance charges shall be
computed in a manner to maximize the veterans administration pension and
compensation benefits to which the veteran is entitled.
(b) Care and maintenance charges shall be
computed in a manner to assure that the veteran retains an equitable amount to
be set by the veterans service commission.
(c) The care and maintenance charge shall not
exceed three times the per diem paid by the veterans administration for the
type of care provided.
(d)
The ability or inability of a resident to pay the established rates
shall not reflect adversely upon his admission to the center.
(e) Any patient of the New Mexico veterans center
or his/her guardian may seek a reduction or waiver of care and maintenance
charges for reasons of financial hardship by requesting a review of his/her
case by the New Mexico veterans service commission. Requests for review of care and maintenance charges shall be
submitted in writing to the center administrator or to the chairman of the
veterans service commission and shall describe as fully as possible the reasons
the patient is seeking relief and the extent of the relief from care and
maintenance charges requested. Upon
receiving a request for relief of care and maintenance charges from a patient,
the veterans center administrator shall assist the veteran in preparing the
formal request and shall conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances. The request for relief, all pertinent
information, and the recommendation of the center administrator shall then be
forwarded to the chairman of the veterans service commission for submission to
the veterans service commission for review and action.
(5)
Other factors governing assessment and payment of care and maintenance
charges:
(a) Care and maintenance charges begin on the
first day of admission.
(b) Care and maintenance charges are to be
paid on the first of each month or as soon thereafter as possible for the care
and maintenance to be received in the following month.
(c) Any patient, his/her guardian, or legal
spouse, who knowingly withholds or falsifies income or resource date or who
withholds payment of assessed care and maintenance charges may subject the
patient to discharge and forfeiture of benefits and may subject the patient, or
other parties responsible, to legal action related to the recovery of valid
indebtedness to the state of New Mexico.
(d) When a patient's veterans administration
compensation and pension benefits have been reduced or stopped due to excessive
resources or estate, a care and maintenance charge shall continue to be
assessed at the level which would otherwise be indicated if the-patient was
still entitled to receive full veterans administration compensation and
benefits.
(e) Income will be rounded to the nearest
whole dollar when computing care and maintenance charges, and the care and
maintenance charges will be rounded to the nearest whole dollar when
assessments are made.
(f) Patients on leave from the center for
outside hospitalization or medical care shall not be charged for care and
maintenance after their fourth day of absence.
Patients on leave from the center for personal reasons of their own
volition shall continue to be charged for care and maintenance for such period
of their leave that their bed is being held open for them.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
7.25.10.16 NEPOTISM:
A. Purpose: To
establish guidelines concerning hiring, transfer or promotion of employees who
are related to other employees.
B. Definition: Relative is defined as the parent, spouse,
child, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, father-in-law,
mother-in-law, and persons residing in the incumbent's household.
C. Policy: It is the policy of the New Mexico veterans
center to regulate the hiring and supervision of relatives in the following
manner:
(1) Applicants for vacant positions will be
required to complete a form disclosing any relatives he/she has in the
hospital. (See attached form.)
(2) New hires related to current employees
shall not be selected for any vacancy if the selection will result in either
the candidate or his/her relative becoming the supervisor of the other.
(3) All current employees who wish to apply
for vacancies will be made aware of the fact that no transfer or promotion will
be approved or permitted if, as a result of transfer or promotion, either the
candidate or his/her relative will be an immediate supervisor of the other.
(4) In addition to the preceding, it is
strongly recommended that close relatives, as defined above, not work in the
same department or section.
(5) Any exception from the above will be
justified to the hospital administrator and/or the chairman of the veterans
service commission.
[Recompiled
10/31/01]
HISTORY OF
7.25.10 NMAC:
Pre-NMAC
History: The material in this part was
derived from that previously filed with the State Records Center:
New Mexico Veterans
Center Policy No. 0, Mission Statement, 8/27/85.
New Mexico
Veterans Center Policy No. 1, Governing Body and Administration, 8/27/85.
New Mexico
Veterans Center Policy No. 2, Organization, 8/27/85.
New Mexico
Veterans Center Policy No. 3, Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, 8/27/85.
New Mexico
Veterans Center Policy No. 4, Establishment of Policy and Procedure, 8/27/85.
New Mexico
Veterans Center Policy No. 5, Code of Conduct, 8/27/85.
New Mexico Veterans
Center Policy No. 6, Admission Requirements, 8/27/85.
New Mexico
Veterans Center Policy No. 7, Care and Maintenance Charges, 8/27/85.
New Mexico
Veterans Center Policy No. 8, Nepotism, 8/27/85.
History of
Repealed Material: [RESERVED]