Health Facility Licensing & Certification Bureau (HFL&C)
Report Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation & Other Reported Incidents and Facility Complaints to:
Division of Health Improvement
Health Facility Licensing & Certification Bureau
Toll Free: (800) 752-8649
Phone: (505) 476-9025
FAX: (888) 576-0012
Email Incident Management
Report Complaints Online:
Incident Report Form
The Department of Health (DOH) through the Health Facility Licensing and Certification (HFL&C) Bureau is responsible for:
Establishing, monitoring and enforcing quality standards for over 1100 health facilities to assure the safety and wellbeing of residents/patients/clients
Developing policy and collaborating with providers, consumers, regulatory agencies, state and local ombudsmen, federal, state and local policymakers, and professional associations to assure that quality standards are met
Assuring that the public receives the type of care that promotes their quality of life, their dignity, and their autonomy
Description of Programs State Licensure
All health care facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, personal care boarding homes, ambulatory surgical centers, community health clinics, dialysis centers, group homes for persons with developmental disabilities, and community mental health clinics) require licensure.
Licensure affects two critical areas of health care service delivery:
- Staff assist potential health care providers in understanding and in meeting all requirements necessary to open a new facility
- Quality of care is assured through the regulatory process and monitoring of facilities
Health compliance officers inspect all licensed and certified facilities to ensure safety and health of individuals. Life Safety Code surveyors conduct fire safety inspections. A licensed Architect and Architect Technician review health facility construction plans for compliance.
FEDERAL CERTIFICATION
Many health facilities are licensed only; not all facilities are licensed and federally certified. Certification is required under the Medicare and Medicaid laws in order for a health facility to receive reimbursement for services provided to Medicare and/or Medicaid patients.
LONG-TERM CARE
This program ensures that long-term care licensed and certified facilities (i.e. nursing homes) meet the established standards for health and safety.
MEDICAL CARE
This program ensures that all other non-long-term care facilities (i.e. hospitals, home health agencies, renal dialysis centers, and rural health clinics) meet the established standards for health and safety in both licensed and certified establishments.
CLINICAL LABORATORY IMPROVEMENT
This program ensures that all laboratory facilities (including physician office laboratories) meet the established health and safety standards for specimen testing.
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS
The Bureau conducts an active complaint investigation process system to assure that:
- Residents'/Patients' rights are protected
- Residents/Patients are free from abuse
- Residents'/Patients' quality of life and quality of care are assured.
