Section 460IAC6-25-10. Investigation of death

   (a) If an individual dies, an investigation into the death shall be conducted by the provider identified in section 1 of this rule, except as provided in subsection (b).

  (b) If the provider identified in section 1 of this rule is a family member of the individual, then the provider of case management services to an individual shall conduct an investigation into the death of the individual. If there is no provider providing case management services to the individual, then the individual's service coordinator shall conduct an investigation into the death of the individual.

  (c) A provider conducting an investigation into the death of an individual shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Notify by telephone the BDDS's central office in Indianapolis not later than twenty-four (24) hours after the death.

(2) Notify adult protective services or child protection services, as applicable, not later than twenty-four (24) hours after the death.

(3) Collect and review documentation of all events, incidents, and occurrences in the individual's life for at least the thirty (30) day period immediately before:

(A) the death of the individual;

(B) the hospitalization in which the individual's death occurred; or

(C) the individual's transfer to a nursing home in which death occurred within ninety (90) days of that transfer.

(4) In conjunction with all providers of services to the deceased individual, review and document all the actions of all employees or agents of all providers for the thirty (30) day period immediately before:

(A) the individual's death;

(B) the hospitalization in which the individual's death occurred; or

(C) the individual's transfer to a nursing home in which death occurred within ninety (90) days of that transfer.

(5) Document conclusions and make recommendations arising from the investigation.

(6) Document implementation of any recommendations made under subdivision (5).

(7) No later than fifteen (15) days after the individual's death, send to the BDDS:

(A) a completed notice of an individual's death on a form prescribed by the BDDS; and

(B) a final report that includes all documentation required by subdivisions (1) through (6) for review by the division's mortality review committee.

  (d) A provider shall respond to any additional requests for information made by the mortality review committee within seven (7) days of the provider's receipt of a request.

  (e) A provider shall submit the documentation to the BDDS to support the provider's implementation of specific recommendations made by the mortality review committee. (Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services; 460 IAC 6-25-10; filed Nov 4, 2002, 12:04 p.m.: 26 IR 782; filed Aug 29, 2003, 10:30 a.m.: 27 IR 114; readopted filed Sep 26, 2008, 11:11 a.m.: 20081015-IR-460080618RFA; readopted filed Aug 11, 2014, 11:20 a.m.: 20140910-IR-460140241RFA)