Section 173.16 - Designation of regional long-term care ombudsman programs(A) The department of aging shall designate regions to be served by regional long-term care ombudsman programs.(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, the state long-term care ombudsman shall designate regional programs in accordance with criteria established by the department of aging in rules which the department shall adopt under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The criteria shall include specifications regarding the sites of the regional programs' offices and requirements concerning staffing, levels of training required for staff members, program review, and tax exempt status for federal income tax purposes.(C) An entity serving as a regional program on the effective date of this section shall be designated as a regional program unless the state ombudsman determines that the entity does not meet the requirements established under division (B) of this section, except that the state ombudsman may designate as a regional program an entity that does not meet the requirements if it is serving as a regional program on the effective date of this section and the state ombudsman determines that it is the best qualified program to serve the region.(D) In an adjudication conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the state ombudsman may issue an adjudication order withdrawing or provisionally maintaining the designation of an entity as a regional program if it ceases to meet the criteria established pursuant to division (B) of this section or a conflict of interest develops between the regional program or a person associated with it and the office. If the designation of a regional program is provisionally maintained, the state ombudsman shall notify the program of the reasons for its provisional status, the changes or corrections necessary for the removal of its provisional status, the length of time it has to make the changes or corrections, and that the state ombudsman will withdraw the designation if the program does not comply with the requirements specified in the notice. If the designation of a regional program is withdrawn, the state ombudsman shall provide for the continuation of ombudsman services for that region.Effective Date: 6/12/1990.