Section 9-28-1302 - Quality of care - Quality assurance reviews(a) The Department of Human Services shall promulgate rules setting minimum standards and metrics governing the quality of care provided by a regulated facility to a child.(b) Quality of care standards shall include that a regulated facility shall provide: (1) Trauma-informed programming and clinical services and, when applicable, evidence-based treatments;(2) Services that will be short-term, target treatment episodes to reduce the likelihood of re-entry into residential treatment settings;(3) Services that are family-driven and youth-guided;(4) Mental health services and clinical services provided by clinical staff as appropriate for the child's needs;(5) Educational services in compliance with state and federal law and rules of the Department of Education;(6) Coordination of all needs including medical, dental, and other needs; and(7) Clinical discharge planning throughout the child's stay that includes the custodian and child involvement.(c)(1) The Department of Human Services and its designees may inspect and investigate the quality of care for behavioral health provided to any child admitted to a regulated facility, whether or not the child is an Arkansas resident.(2) The Department of Human Services or any other public agency having authority or responsibility with respect to child maltreatment, including without limitation the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's office, may investigate any alleged or suspected child maltreatment in any regulated facility.(d) The Department of Human Services shall conduct quality assurance reviews for each regulated facility, consisting of the following: (1) A review of treatment structure including without limitation:(A) Observation of paraprofessional and direct-care staff interaction with patients;(B) Review of daily activity structure outside of school and treatment;(C) Review of paraprofessional and direct-care staff training and personnel records;(D) Review of staff-to-client ratios; and(E) Completion of client interviews;(2) An analysis of referral data, statistics, and psychotropic medication prescriptions;(3) An on-site visit of a regulated facility's operation, to be conducted at least once per year; and(4) Technical assistance and ongoing quality assurance and collaboration as needed.(e) This subchapter does not require any additional licensure or certification for a regulated facility.Added by Act 2023, No. 806,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023.