Ch. 5, § 20. Informal dispute resolution

(a) Availability. Informal dispute resolution is available whenever the survey agency notifies a facility of noncompliance. (b) Request. A request for informal dispute resolution shall be made in writing and hand- delivered or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, and delivered to the survey agency within ten calendar days after the facility receives a statement of deficiencies. (c) Conduct of meeting. Informal dispute resolution shall consist of a face-to-face meeting between representatives of the facility and representative of the survey agency. (d) Scope of informal dispute resolution. (i) The purpose of informal dispute resolution is to allow a provider an opportunity to demonstrate that deficiencies should not have been cited. (ii) A facility may not use the informal dispute resolution process to challenge any part of the survey process, including the: (A) Classification of deficiencies; (B) Director's choice of remedy(ies) imposed; (C) Failure of the survey agency to comply with a requirement of the survey process; (D) Inconsistency of the survey team in citing deficiencies among facilities; or (E) Inadequacy or inaccuracy of the informal dispute resolution process. (e) A request for informal dispute resolution shall not delay the imposition of remedies.