The secretary can deny, suspend, or revoke a license, but must give written notice with reasons. There are appeal rights, and an immediate suspension process for freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospitals with short notice and appeal options.
§2110. Denial, suspension or revocation of license; appeal A. The secretary may deny, suspend or revoke a license in any case in which he finds that there has been a substantial failure of the applicant or licensee to comply with the requirements of this Part or the rules, regulations and minimum standards adopted by the department, provided in all such cases the secretary shall furnish the applicant or licensee thirty days written notice specifying reasons for the action. B. Any applicant or licensee who feels aggrieved by the action of the secretary in denying, suspending or revoking a license may appeal suspensively from the action of the secretary in accordance with the delay, notice and other procedures set forth in R.S. 40:2009.7 B, C, and D. C. Any person aggrieved by an action of the appellate board may, within thirty days after notification of such action, appeal suspensively to the district court for the parish of East Baton Rouge. A record of all proceedings before the board shall be made and kept on file with the board. The board shall transmit to the district court a certified copy of the record. The district court shall try the appeal de novo. D.(1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the secretary may issue an immediate suspension of a license for a freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospital if an investigation or survey determines that the applicant or licensee is in violation of any provision of this Subpart, in violation of the rules promulgated by the department, or in violation of any other federal or state law or regulation, and the secretary determines that the violation or violations pose an imminent or immediate threat to the health, welfare, or safety of a client or patient. The secretary shall give the licensee five days written notice of the immediate suspension. The suspension of the license shall be effective five days after receipt of the written notice. After the freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospital receives the immediate suspension notice, the department shall assist the hospital with discharge planning, which shall address transition, relocation, and transportation issues, for each patient admitted at the hospital as of the date of receipt of the written notice of the immediate suspension. (2) The licensee shall have the right to file a devolutive appeal of the immediate suspension notice. The appeal request shall be filed with the office of the secretary within thirty calendar days of the receipt of the written notice of the immediate suspension. The appeal request shall specify in detail the reasons why the appeal is being lodged. (3) The licensee shall have the right to file for injunctive relief from the immediate suspension of the license. The injunctive relief shall be filed with the Nineteenth Judicial District Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge. Before injunctive relief may be granted, the licensee shall prove by clear and convincing evidence that the secretary's decision to issue the immediate suspension of the license was arbitrary and capricious. E. If a license for a freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospital is revoked or renewal of a license for a freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospital is denied other than for cessation of business or non-operational status, or if the license is surrendered in lieu of an adverse action, any owner that had direct knowledge of the practices that led to the immediate suspension or any on-site administrator of the licensee may be prohibited from owning, managing, directing, or operating another freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospital in the state of Louisiana. Added by Acts 1961, No. 90, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 680, §60; Acts 2012, No. 306, §1, eff. May 25, 2012.