Title 7, Human Health Care and Safety.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, immediately upon the request of the Committee and as necessary to carry out the Committee's purpose and duties, the Committee shall be provided, without cost and without authorization of the persons to whom the information or record…

(a) When necessary for the discharge of its duties, the Committee may issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to appear, testify, or produce books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, documents, medical records, or other relevant records. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of th…

(a) Except as provided in this section, information and records obtained or created by the Committee are confidential and not subject to civil discovery, or to disclosure from the Committee pursuant to subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 2. (b) Information and records presented t…

(a) Any person, hospital, or institution participating in good faith in providing information to the Committee pursuant to this chapter shall have immunity from administrative, civil, or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed with respect to the disclosure…

Whoever knowingly discloses, receives, makes use of, or permits the use of information concerning a deceased woman or other person in violation of this chapter shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than $1,000. Violations of this chapter shall be prosecuted by the Office o…

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (a)(1) "Department" means the Department of Health. (2) "Long-term care facility" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 7-701.01(7). (3) "Long-term care services" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 7-701.01(7A).

(a) The Department, in consultation with residents receiving long-term care services, providers of long-term care services, community advocates, and any other appropriate District agencies, shall conduct a study using a community-based participatory research framework to evaluate…

(a) There is established within the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services ("DMHHS") the position of the Long-Term Care Strategic Coordinator ("Coordinator"), who shall be a full-time employee of the District. By January 1, 2026, the Coordinator shall be respons…

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (a)(1) “Administrator” means the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of a long-term care facility, including, in the case of a community residence facility, the residence director. (2) “Court” means the…

There is established a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program for the District of Columbia. The program shall provide a comprehensive continuum of advocacy services for older persons and other persons who are residents in the District, which shall include: (1) Advocating for the rights…

(a)(1) There is established within the Department of Aging and Community Living the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, which shall be headed by the ombudsman. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the ombudsman shall be appointed by the Director. The ombudsma…

(a) The ombudsman shall have training and experience in the following areas: (1) Gerontology, long-term care, health care, or relevant social services program; (2) The legal system; (3) Dispute resolution techniques, including investigation, mediation, or negotiation; and (4) Lon…

(a) The ombudsman shall: (1) Receive, investigate, and resolve complaints or concerns made by or on behalf of residents; (2) Promote the well-being and quality of life of each resident; (3) Encourage the development and the expansion of the activities of the program in all wards …

(a) The ombudsman and his or her designee shall have access to any record that is necessary to carry out his or her responsibilities under this chapter. (b) The ombudsman or his or her designee may initiate an investigation of a long-term care facility independent of the receipt …

(a) The program shall protect the confidentiality of the records (electronic or hard copy) of the residents and employees. (b) No information or records (electronic or hard copy) maintained by the program shall be disclosed to the public. (c) Except as provided in subsection (d) …

(a) No employee, designee, or representative of the program shall be held liable for the good faith performance of responsibilities under this chapter, except that no immunity shall extend to criminal acts. (b) Repealed. (c) No communication made by the ombudsman or his or her de…

(a) The operator of a long-term care facility shall permit the ombudsman or his or her designee access to the facility to: (1) Visit, talk with, or make personal, social, or legal services available to all residents, or investigate complaints; (2) Inform residents of their rights…

(a) Each District agency shall provide cooperation, assistance, data, and the access to records necessary to enable the ombudsman to perform his or her duties under this chapter and other applicable federal and District law. This section shall not be construed to supercede the la…

The Ombudsman may communicate and visit with a resident who receives home care services; provided, that the Ombudsman obtains permission from the resident or a representative of the resident to enter the resident’s home.

(a) Civil fines, penalties, or related costs may be imposed against any long-term care facility, owner, executive officer, administrator, employee, or agent, for the violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule issued pursuant to this chapter. (b) Procedures for adjudic…

A resident, a representative of a resident, the ombudsman, or the Attorney General may bring an action in court for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction to enjoin a long-term care facility from violating a provision of subchapter II or II…

(a) A resident, a representative of a resident, or the ombudsman, on behalf of a resident, may bring an action in court to recover actual and punitive damages for an injury that results from a violation of subchapter II or III of this chapter, or any rule issued by the Mayor purs…

The court shall award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to a resident who prevails in an action brought under § 7-705.01 or § 7-705.02.

Within 90 days of March 16, 1989, the Mayor shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue proposed rules to implement the provisions of this subchapter. The proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sunda…

(a) Notwithstanding the licensing powers and responsibilities given to other District of Columbia agencies and officials in subchapters I-A and I-B of Chapter 28 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Code, the Department of Health, as established by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of…

(a)(1) The Department of Health ("Department") shall participate in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ("BRFSS"). (2) The Department shall annually publish a detailed report on the results of the BRFSS on its website. (3) The Department shall include questions related…

(a) By September 30, 2025, the Department of Health ("Department"), in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health ("DBH"), shall create a publicly accessible and searchable online directory of available behavioral health services in the District ("directory"), which sh…

(a) There is established as a special fund the Health Occupations Regulation Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Mayor in accordance with subsection (b-1) of this section. (b) All licensing fees and civil fines relating to the practice of health occupations in the D…

(a) Beginning with fiscal year 2007, the Mayor shall ensure that all fees and fines received from enforcement and regulation of the activities described in § 7-731 shall be deposited in the Regulatory Enforcement Fund as required by § 7-731(c). (b) Beginning with fiscal year 2007…

(a) There is established as a special fund the Board of Pharmacy Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Department of Health in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. (b)(1) All licensing fees, civil fines, and interest earned relating to the practice of pharm…

The Mayor is authorized to establish a schedule of fees for forms and for performing laboratory analysis of biological and environmental samples obtained from humans, animals, or various environmental media for the purpose of identifying environmental contaminants and performing …

(a) For fiscal year 2010, the Director of the Department of Health shall have the authority to issue grants to qualified community organizations for the purposes of conducting health promotion, preventing disease, and providing health services; provided, that any grant in excess …

(a) There is established as a special fund the AIDS Drug Assistance Program Fund (“Fund”), to be administered by the Department of Health in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. (b) Revenue from the following sources shall be deposited into the Fund: (1) Rebates provid…

(a) The Director of the Department of Health may establish a schedule of fees for the prevention and treatment of communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis to be provided to any individual who presents for prevention or …

(a) The Department of Health shall establish a grocery access pilot grant program for the purpose of providing at least 1,000 eligible District residents with membership to a grocery delivery service at no cost in Fiscal Years 2025, 2026, and 2027. (b)(1) To be eligible to partic…

(a) There is established as a special fund the JUUL Settlement Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Department of Health in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. (b) There shall be deposited into the Fund: (1) Repealed. (2) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2025, 50…

(a) Beginning on October 1, 2025, the Department of Health shall establish and administer a licensure pathways program ("program") for the purpose of assisting internationally trained health professionals in obtaining the licensure and credentials necessary to practice in the Dis…

(a) There is established as a special fund the DC Health and Wellness Center Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Department of Health in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. (b) All payments made for services rendered at the DC Health and Wellness Center …

The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

(a) For the purposes of this subchapter, the term: (1) "Electronic smoking device" means any product, including one composed of a heating element, battery, or electronic circuit, that contains or delivers nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be …

The Department of Health is authorized to conduct inspections of all places of employment and public places to ensure that the activity of smoking in such places, which is hereby prohibited, is not taking place, except that: (1) Between April 4, 2006, and January 1, 2007, the smo…

(a) The following places shall be exempt from the provisions of this subchapter: (1) A retail store that is used primarily for the sale of tobacco products and accessories in which the total annual revenue generated by the sale of non-tobacco products or accessories is no greater…

An employer or person who willfully violates the requirements of this chapter by: (1) Smoking in a prohibited area shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000; subsequent offenses shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 or more than $1,000; (2) O…

(a) The Mayor may grant an economic hardship waiver from the requirements of this subchapter; provided, that prior to the granting of a waiver, the applicant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Mayor, that compliance with the requirements of this subchapter has caused or will…

(a) Places of employment and enclosed public places that permit smoking pursuant to this chapter shall not require employees to work in smoking areas provided that an employee requests to work solely in non-smoking areas. (1) An employee who is aggrieved by a violation of this su…

The Mayor is authorized to promulgate rules necessary to implement this chapter. Any proposed regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall be submitted to the Council for a 60-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If …