(a) No provider shall engage in the business of offering or providing continuing care in this State without a license to do so obtained from the Commissioner as provided in this Article. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, other than a provider licensed under this Article, to advertise or market to the general public any product similar to continuing care through the use of such terms as “life care”, “continuing care”, or “guaranteed care for life”, or similar terms, words, or phrases. The licensing process may involve a series of steps pursuant to rules adopted by the Commissioner under this Article.

(b) The application for a license shall be filed with the Department by the provider on forms prescribed by the Department and within a period of time prescribed by the Department; and shall include all information required by the Department pursuant to rules adopted by it under this Article including, but not limited to, the disclosure statement meeting the requirements of this Article and other financial and facility development information required by the Department. The application for a license must be accompanied by an application fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(c) Upon receipt of the complete application for a license in proper form, the Department shall, within 10 business days, issue a notice of filing to the applicant. Within 90 days of the notice of filing, the Department shall enter an order issuing the license or rejecting the application.

(d) If the Commissioner determines that any of the requirements of this Article have not been met, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant that the application must be corrected within 30 days in such particulars as designated by the Commissioner. If the requirements are not met within the time allowed, the Commissioner may enter an order rejecting the application, which order shall include the findings of fact upon which the order is based and which shall not become effective until 20 days after the end of the 30-day period. During the 20-day period, the applicant may petition for reconsideration and is entitled to a hearing.

(e) Repealed by Session Laws 2003-193, s. 1, effective June 12, 2003.

(f) The Commissioner may, on an annual basis or on a more frequent basis if he deems it to be necessary, in addition to the annual disclosure statement revision required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-64-30, require every licensed provider to file with the Department any of the information provided by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-64-5(b) for new licensure that the Commissioner, pursuant to rules adopted by him under this Article, determines is needed for review of licensed providers.

(g) The Commissioner may require a provider to: (i) provide the report of an actuary that estimates the capacity of the provider to meet its contractual obligation to the resident, or (ii) give consideration to expected rates of mortality and morbidity, expected refunds, and expected capital expenditures in accordance with standards promulgated by the American Academy of Actuaries, within the five-year forecast statements, as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-64-20(a)(12). (1989, c. 758, s. 1; 1991, c. 196, ss. 1, 2; 2001-223, s. 22.1; 2003-193, ss. 1, 2; 2009-451, s. 21.9(a); 2010-128, s. 1.)