The procedure for removing an individual provider or prospective individual provider from the referral registry is as follows:

The authority and/or its designee will review all complaints and disqualification information received by the authority and:

(1) For those complaints that fall under the legal jurisdiction of law enforcement or adult protective services (APS) or child protective services (CPS), an immediate referral shall be made to the appropriate agency.

(a) The HCQA may initiate an emergency proceeding to inactivate the individual provider or prospective individual provider on the registry pending the investigation.

(b) If APS, CPS and/or law enforcement declines the referral, the complaint will proceed to assessment, recommendation and decision.

(c) If APS, CPS and/or law enforcement accepts the complaint, then action beyond the emergency adjudicative process per RCW 34.05.479, will be stayed pending APS, CPS and/or law enforcement action.

(2) For those complaints not forwarded to APS, CPS or law enforcement, HCQA will conduct an internal assessment.

(a) Upon assessment, a decision will be made and notification will be sent, in writing to the individual provider or prospective individual provider.

(b) The individual provider or prospective individual provider has the right to appeal an adverse decision within twenty-eight days of the date the formal notice was mailed by HCQA.

(c) The appeal must be sent in writing to the office of administrative hearings (OAH) as designated on the formal notice within twenty-eight days of the date the formal notice was mailed by HCQA.

(d) The OAH will schedule the hearing and notify interested parties.

(e) An administrative law judge (ALJ) from OAH shall act as presiding officer for the adjudicative proceeding as provided in RCW 34.05.425 (1)(c).

(f) The ALJ shall render an initial decision.

(g) The initial decision will be reviewed and final agency action shall be taken by the HCQA board, either adopting, modifying, or reversing the initial decision which shall be reduced to a final order of the board.

(h) The final order is the final agency action and will be provided to all interested parties and to the individual provider or prospective individual provider along with information regarding the right to seek judicial review in superior court when applicable.

(i) The final order shall include, or incorporate by reference to the initial order, all matters required by RCW 34.05.461(3).