Section 130. Variances

A. The OLC can authorize variances only to its own licensing regulations, not to regulations of another agency or to any requirements in federal, state, or local laws.

B. A hospice program may request a variance to a particular regulation or requirement contained in this chapter when the standard or requirement poses a special hardship and when a variance to it would not endanger the safety or well-being of patients. The request for a variance must describe the special hardship to the hospice program and to the patients it serves. When applicable, the request should include proposed alternatives to meet the purpose of the requirements that will ensure the protection and well-being of patients. At no time shall a variance approved for one individual be extended to general applicability. If a variance is denied, expires, or is rescinded, routine enforcement of the regulation or portion of the regulation shall be resumed. The hospice program may at any time withdraw a request for a variance.

C. The OLC shall have the authority to waive, either temporarily or permanently, the enforcement of one or more of these regulations provided safety, patient care and services are not adversely affected. The OLC may attach conditions to the granting of the variance in order to protect persons in care.

D. The OLC may rescind or modify a variance when (i) conditions change; (ii) additional information becomes known that alters the basis for the original decision; (iii) the hospice program fails to meet any conditions attached to the variance; or (iv) results of the variance jeopardize the safety, comfort, or well-being of persons in care.

E. Consideration of a variance is initiated when a written request is submitted to the director of the OLC. The OLC shall notify the hospice program in writing of the receipt of the request for a variance.

F. The licensee shall be notified in writing if the requested variance is denied.

G. The hospice program shall develop procedures for monitoring the implementation of any approved variance to assure the ongoing collection of any data relevant to the variance and the presentation of any later report concerning the variance as requested by the OLC.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. November 1, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2008.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-162.5 of the Code of Virginia.