COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY

(a) Section 222.024 does not affect the authority of the Department of State Health Services to implement and enforce the provisions of Chapter 241 (Texas Hospital Licensing Law) to: (1) reinspect a hospital if a hospital applies for the reissuance of its license after a final ruling upholding the suspension or revocation of a hospital's license, the assessment of administrative or civil penalties, or the issuance of an injunction against the hospital for violations of provisions of the licensing law, rules adopted under the licensing law, special license conditions, or orders of the commissioner of state health services; or (2) investigate a complaint against a hospital and, if appropriate, enforce the provisions of the licensing law on a finding by the Department of State Health Services that reasonable cause exists to believe that the hospital has violated provisions of the licensing law, rules adopted under the licensing law, special license conditions, or orders of the commissioner of state health services; provided, however, that the Department of State Health Services shall coordinate with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and its agents responsible for the inspection of hospitals to determine compliance with the conditions of participation under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395 et seq.), so as to avoid duplicate investigations. (b) The executive commissioner shall by rule establish a procedure for the acceptance and timely review of complaints received from hospitals concerning the objectivity, training, and qualifications of the persons conducting the inspection.