Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 2.djvu/396

 106 STAT. 1276 PUBLIC LAW 102-375—SEPT. 30, 1992 under section 712(a)(5)(A) and who is individually designated by the Ombudsman. "(6) RESIDENT.—The term 'resident' means an older individual who resides in a long-term care facility. 42 USC 3058g. "(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— "(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to be eligible to receive an allotment under section 703 from funds appropriated under section 702(a), a State agency shall, in accordance with this section— ''(A) establish and operate an Office of the State Long- Term Care Ombudsman; and " (B) carry out through the OfEice a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. "(2) OMBUDSMAN.—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. "(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Ombudsman shall serve on a fulltime basis, and shall, personally or through representatives of the Office— "(A) identify, investigate, and resolve complaints that— ''(i) are made by, or on behalf of, residents; and "(ii) relate to action, inaction, or decisions, that may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, or rights of the residents (including the welfare and rights of the residents with respect to the appointment and activities of guardians and representative payees), of— "(I) providers, or representatives of providers, of long-term care services; " (II) public agencies; or "(III) health and social service agencies; "(B) provide services to assist the residents in protecting the health, safety, welfare, and rights of the residents; "(C) inform the residents about means of obtaining services provided by providers or agencies described in subparagraph (A)(ii) or services described in subparagraph (B); "(D) ensure that the residents have regular and timely access to the services provided through the Office and that the residents and complainants receive timely responses from representatives of the Office to complaints; "(E) represent the interests of the residents before governmental agencies and seek administrative, legal, and other remedies to protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of the residents; "(F) provide administrative and technical assistance to entities designated under paragraph (5) to assist the entities in participating in the program; "(G)(i) analyze, comment on, and monitor the development and implementation of Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and other governmental policies and actions, that pertain to the health, safety, welfare, and rights of the residents, with respect to the adequacy of long-term care facilities and services in the State;
 * «£€. 712. STATE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.

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