Title 33, Chapter 45, Section 7
( 33-45-7)
(a) In addition to other provisions considered proper to effectuate
any continuing care agreement, addendum, or amendment each such
agreement, addendum, or amendment shall be in writing and shall: (1) Provide for the continuing care of only one resident, or for
two persons occupying space designed for double occupancy under
appropriate regulations established by the provider, and shall
list all properties transferred and their market value at the time
of transfer, including donations, subscriptions, fees, and any
other amounts paid or payable by, or on behalf of, the resident or
residents; (2) Specify all services which are to be provided by the provider
to each resident, including, in detail, all items which each
resident will receive, whether the items will be provided for a
designated time period or for life, and whether the services will
be available on the premises or at another specified location.
The provider shall indicate which services or items are included
in the agreement for continuing care and which services or items
are made available at or by the facility at extra charge. Such
items shall include, but are not limited to, food, shelter,
personal services or nursing care, drugs, burial, and incidentals; (3) Describe the terms and conditions under which an agreement for
continuing care may be canceled by the provider or by a resident
and the conditions, if any, under which all or any portion of the
entrance fee will be refunded in the event of cancellation of the
agreement by the provider or by the resident, including the effect
of any change in the health or financial condition of a person
between the date of entering an agreement for continuing care and
the date of initial occupancy of a living unit by that person; (4) Describe the health and financial conditions required for a
person to be accepted as a resident and to continue as a resident,
once accepted, including the effect of any change in the health or
financial condition of a person between the date of entering into
a continuing care agreement and the date of taking occupancy in a
living unit; (5) Describe the circumstances under which the resident will be
permitted to remain in the facility in the event of financial
difficulties of the resident; (6) State the fees that will be charged if the resident marries
while at the designated facility, the terms concerning the entry
of a spouse to the facility, and the consequences if the spouse
does not meet the requirements for entry; (7) State whether the funds or property transferred for the care
of the resident is: (A) Nonrefundable, in which event the agreement shall comply
with this subparagraph. Such agreement shall allow a 90 day
trial period of residency in the facility during which time the
provider, resident, or person who provided the transfer of funds
or property for the care of such resident may cancel the
agreement after written notice. A refund must be made of such
funds, property, or both within 120 days after the receipt of
such notice and shall be calculated on a pro rata basis with the
provider retaining no more than 10 percent of the amount of the
entry fee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subparagraph,
the provisions of paragraph (8) of this subsection, and the
provisions of subsections (b) and (e) of this Code section shall
apply to nonrefundable agreements; or (B) Refundable, in which event the agreement shall comply with
this subparagraph. Such agreement may be canceled upon the
giving of written notice of cancellation of at least 30 days by
the provider, the resident, or the person who provided the
transfer of property or funds for the care of such resident;
provided, however, if an agreement is canceled because there has
been a good faith determination that a resident is a danger to
that resident or to others, only such notice as is reasonable
under the circumstances shall be required. The agreement shall
further provide in clear and understandable language, in print
no smaller than the largest type used in the body of the
agreement, the terms governing the refund of any portion of the
entrance fee, which terms shall include a provision that all
refunds be made within 120 days of notification. For a resident
whose agreement with the facility provides that the resident
does not receive a transferable membership or ownership right in
the facility and who has occupied his unit, the refund shall be
calculated on a pro rata basis with the facility retaining no
more than 2 percent per month of occupancy by the resident and
no more than a 4 percent fee for processing. Such refund shall
be paid no later than 120 days after the giving of notice of
intention to cancel. Alternatively, if the contract provides
for the facility to retain no more than 1 percent per month of
occupancy by the resident, it may provide that such refund will
be payable upon receipt by the provider of the next entrance fee
for any comparable unit upon which there is no prior claim by
any resident. Unless the provisions of subsection (e) of this
Code section apply, for any prospective resident, regardless of
whether or not such a resident receives a transferable
membership or ownership right in the facility, who cancels the
agreement prior to occupancy of the unit the refund shall be the
entire amount paid toward the entrance fee, less a processing
fee not to exceed 4 percent of the entire entrance fee, but in
no event shall such processing fee exceed the amount paid by the
prospective resident. Such refund shall be paid no later than
60 days after the giving of notice of intention to cancel. For
a resident who has occupied his unit and who has received a
transferable membership or ownership right in the facility, the
foregoing refund provisions shall not apply but shall be deemed
satisfied by the acquisition or receipt of a transferable
membership or an ownership right in the facility. The provider
shall not charge any fee for the transfer of membership or sale
of an ownership right; (8) State the terms under which an agreement is canceled by the
death of the resident. These terms may contain a provision that,
upon the death of a resident, the entrance fee of such resident
shall be considered earned and shall become the property of the
provider. When the unit is shared, the conditions with respect to
the effect of the death or removal of one of the residents shall
be included in the agreement; (9) Describe the policies which may lead to changes in monthly
recurring and nonrecurring charges or fees for goods and services
received. The agreement shall provide for advance notice to the
resident, of not less than 60 days, before any change in fees or
charges or the scope of care or services may be effective, except
for changes required by state or federal assistance programs; (10) Provide that charges for care paid in one lump sum shall not
be increased or changed during the duration of the agreed upon
care, except for changes required by state or federal assistance
programs; (11) Specify whether or not the facility is, or is affiliated
with, a religious, nonprofit, or proprietary organization or
management entity, the extent to which the affiliate organization
will be responsible for the financial and contractual obligations
of the provider, and the provisions of the federal Internal
Revenue Code, if any, under which the provider or affiliate is
exempt from the payment of federal income tax; and (12) Describe the policy of the provider regarding reserve
funding. (b) A resident has the right to rescind a continuing care agreement,
without penalty or forfeiture, within seven days after executing the
agreement. During the seven-day period, the resident's funds shall
be retained in a separate escrow account under terms approved by the
department. A resident shall not be required to move into the
facility designated in the agreement before the expiration of the
seven-day period. (c) The agreement shall include or shall be accompanied by a
statement, printed in boldface type, which reads: "This facility
and all other continuing care facilities in this state are regulated
by Chapter 45 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
A copy of the law is on file in this facility. The law gives you or
your legal representative the right to inspect our most recent
annual statement before signing the agreement." (d) Before the transfer of any money or other property, other than
an application fee which shall not exceed $1,500.00, to a provider
by or on behalf of a prospective resident, the provider shall
present a typewritten or printed copy of the agreement to the
prospective resident and all other parties to the agreement. The
provider shall secure a signed, dated statement from each party to
the contract certifying that a copy of the agreement with the
specified attachment as required pursuant to this chapter was
received. (e) If a resident dies before occupying the facility or, through
illness, injury, or incapacity, is precluded from becoming a
resident under the terms of the continuing care agreement, the
agreement is automatically canceled, and the resident or his legal
representative shall receive a full refund of all moneys paid to the
facility, except those costs specifically incurred by the facility
at the request of the resident and set forth in writing in a
separate addendum, signed by both parties, to the agreement. (f) In order to comply with this Code section, a provider may
furnish information not contained in the continuing care agreement
through an addendum. |