(a) If it is necessary to continue confinement of a committed patient beyond a period of six months ordered by a court or hearing examiner or authorized under subsection (d) of this Code section, the designated responsible physician of the tuberculosis inpatient unit shall review and update the patient's treatment plan and shall prepare a report giving evidence of the necessity of such continued confinement. The report shall be prepared so as to allow sufficient time for the hearing authorized by this Code section to be conducted before the expiration of the six-month period of confinement. The report shall specify that, based upon clinical or X-ray evidence:

(1) The patient is a person having contagious tuberculosis requiring continued commitment; or

(2) The patient is a person having active tuberculosis with a substantial likelihood of future noncompliance with a proposed treatment plan which will predictably lead to the development of infectious drug-resistant tuberculosis. The likelihood of noncompliance must be based upon a history of a prior commitment followed by noncompliance with outpatient treatment.

(b) Such report shall be filed in the patient's medical record. A copy of the report shall be personally served on the patient along with a statement that the patient may, within 15 days after service of the report, file a request for a hearing to be conducted in accordance with the procedure for contested cases under Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act," except as otherwise provided in this chapter, that the patient has a right to counsel at the hearing, that the patient may apply immediately to the superior court in the county where the committed patient is confined to have counsel appointed if the patient cannot afford counsel, and that the court will appoint counsel for the patient unless the patient indicates in writing that he or she does not desire to be represented by counsel or has made his or her own arrangements for counsel. Payment for such court appointed representation shall be made by the department. The hearing may be continued as necessary to allow the appointment of counsel.

(c) If a hearing is requested within 15 days of service of the report on the patient, the hearing examiner shall set a time and place for the hearing to be held within 15 days of the time the hearing examiner receives the request. The hearing examiner may set a hearing if a request is made later than 15 days after service of the report if good cause is shown for the delay in making the request. Notice of the hearing shall be personally served on the patient, the hospital, and, when appropriate, on counsel for the patient. Such hearing shall be a full and fair hearing, as described in Code Section 31-14-3, before a hearing examiner. After such hearing, the hearing examiner may issue any order which the court is authorized to issue under Code Section 31-14-7.

(d) If a hearing is not requested within 15 days of service of the report on the patient, the department shall be authorized to continue confinement of the patient for an additional period not to exceed six months.