Conflicts of interest

A. The State Department of Health shall:

1. Ensure that no employee of the Department whose

responsibilities relate in any manner to long-term care is subject

to a conflict of interest which would impair the ability of the

person to carry out his or her employment duties in an impartial

manner including, but not limited to:

a. ownership or investment interest by the employee or a

member of the employee’s immediate family represented

by equity, debt or other financial relationship in a

long-term care facility or a long-term care service,

b. employment by, under contract to, or participation by

the employee or a member of the employee’s immediate

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 70

family in the management of, a long-term care

facility, except as provided in Section 1-1914.2 of

Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and with the

approval of the State Commissioner of Health, or

c. the receipt or the right of the employee or a member

of the employee’s immediate family to receive directly

or indirectly remuneration, in cash or in kind, under

a compensation arrangement with an owner or operator

of a long-term care facility; and

2. Establish and specify, in writing, mechanisms to identify

and remove conflicts of interest referred to in this section

including, but not limited to:

a. the methods by which the Department will examine

individuals and members of the individuals' immediate

family members to identify the conflicts, and

b. the actions that the Department will require the

individuals and such family members to take to

eliminate such conflicts.

B. For purposes of this section, the term “immediate family”

means:

1. The spouse of the employee;

2. The parents of the spouse of the employee;

3. A child by birth or adoption;

4. A stepchild;

5. A parent;

6. A grandparent;

7. A grandchild;

8. A sibling of the employee;

9. The spouse of any immediate family member specified in this

subsection; or

10. Such other relationship deemed necessary by the State Board

of Health as determined by rule.