Section 71555 - Patients' Monies and Valuables(a) No licensee shall use patients' monies or valuables as his own or mingle them with his own. Patients' monies and valuables shall be separate, intact and free from any liability the licensee incurs in the use of his own or the institution's funds and valuables.(b) Each licensee shall maintain adequate safeguards and accurate records of patients' monies and valuables entrusted to his care. (1) Records, of patients' monies which are maintained as a drawing account, shall include a control account for all receipts and expenditures, an account for each patient and supporting vouchers filed in chronological order. Each account shall be kept current with columns for debits, credits and balance.(2) Records of patients' monies and other valuables entrusted to the licensee for safekeeping shall include a copy of the receipt furnished to the patient or to the person responsible for the patient.(c) Patients' monies not kept in the hospital shall be deposited in a demand trust account in a local bank authorized to do business in California, the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. A county hospital may deposit such funds with the county treasurer.(d) When the amount of money entrusted to a licensee for patients exceeds $500, all money in excess of $500 shall be deposited in a demand trust account as specified in (c), above, unless a fireproof safe is provided on the premises for the protection of monies and valuables. If a fireproof safe is kept and the licensee desires the protection accorded by Civil Code Section 1860, he shall give notice as provided by that section.(e) Upon discharge of a patient, all refunds due and all money and valuables of that patient which have been entrusted to the licensee shall be surrendered to the patient or the person responsible for the patient in exchange for a signed receipt. Money and valuables kept within the hospital must be surrendered upon demand and those kept in a demand trust account or with the county treasurer shall be made available within three normal banking days.(f) Following the death of a patient, except in a coroner or medical examiners case, all money and valuables of that patient which have been entrusted to the licensee shall be surrendered to the person responsible for the patient, the executor or the administrator of the estate in exchange for a signed receipt, within 30 days. Immediate written notice of the death of a patient without an agent or known heirs shall be given to the public administrator of the county as specified by Section 1145, of the Probate Code.(g) Upon change of ownership of a hospital, a written verification by a public accountant of all patients' monies which are being transferred to the custody of the new owners shall be obtained by the new owner in exchange for a signed receipt.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 71555