The Director may deny initial certification if the applicant fails to comply with any certification standard or the application fails to demonstrate the applicant's capacity to deliver high quality MHRS on a sustained and regular basis.
To avoid an over-concentration of providers in areas with existing providers and to encourage increased access to underserved areas of the District, the Director may deny certification if the applicant proposes to operate a facility in an area already served by one or more providers. The Department's priority shall be to grant certification to applicants with the demonstrated capacity to deliver high quality MHRS services that will address unmet needs of the behavioral health system.
While applicants may make minor corrections and substitutions to its application during the certification process, evidence of one or more of the following shall constitute good cause to deny the application for certification when the circumstances demonstrate deliberate misrepresentations, organizational instability, or the lack of preparedness or capacity to meet and sustain compliance with this chapter:
Within fifteen (15) business days of the date on the certification denial, an applicant may make a request for an administrative review of the decision from the Director. The Director shall conduct the administrative review to determine whether the certification denial complied with §3403.1.
Each request for an administrative review shall be in writing and contain a concise statement of the reason(s) why the applicant asserts that the certification denial was in error and any relevant supporting documentation.
The Director shall complete the administrative review within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the applicant's request.
The Director shall issue a written decision and provide a copy to the provider. The Director's decision is final and not subject to further appeal.
An applicant and its executive leadership shall not be allowed to reapply for certification for twelve(12) months following the date of the initial denial or, if applicable, the date of the denial pursuant to the Director's administrative review.
The Department shall decertify existing providers who fail to comply with the certification requirements contained in this chapter. Evidence of one or more of the following shall constitute good cause to decertify:
Nothing in this chapter requires the Director to issue a SOD prior to decertifying an MHRS provider. If grounds for decertification have been met, the Director will issue a written notice of decertification setting forth the factual basis for the decertification, the effective date, and right to request an administrative review.
Within fifteen (15) business days of the date on the notice of decertification, the provider may request an administrative review from the Director. The Director shall conduct the administrative review to determine whether the decertification complied with §3403.7.
Each request for an administrative review shall contain a concise statement of the reason(s) why the provider asserts that decertification should not have occurred and any relevant supporting documentation.
Each administrative review shall be conducted by the Director and shall be completed within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of the provider's request.
The Director shall issue a written decision and provide a copy to the provider. If the Director approves decertification, the provider may within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the Director's written decision request a hearing under the D.C. Administrative Procedure Act, D.C. Official Code §§ 2-501, et seq. The administrative hearing shall be limited to the issues raised in the administrative review request. The decertification shall be stayed pending resolution of the hearing.
Upon decertification, the MHRS provider and its executive leadership shall not be allowed to reapply for certification for any new services, including the service subject to decertification, for a period of two (2) years following the later of the date of the decertification letter or the date of the decertification order (if applicable). If a provider reapplies for certification, the provider shall reapply in accordance with the established certification standards for the type of services provided and show evidence that the grounds for the revocation have been corrected.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22, r. 22-A3403