(a) No psychiatric inpatient unit of a general hospital may be operated without a valid operating certificate issued by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Furthermore, as part of a general hospital, psychiatric inpatient units are required to operate under a valid license issued by the Department of Health, and are thus subject to, and must remain in compliance with, applicable requirements of such department.

(b) Application for new and renewal certificates shall be submitted as directed by the office in accordance with Parts 551 and 573 of this Title.

(c) A certificate valid for a period not to exceed three years shall be issued for units which satisfactorily meet the conditions stated in this Part. The duration of the operating certificate shall be based upon the degree to which the unit meets applicable regulations and standards, upon review by the office.

(d) The current certificate shall be framed and displayed in a conspicuous place which is readily accessible to the public.

(e) Certificates shall remain the property of the office, and expired, invalidated, revoked or terminated certificates shall be returned to the office.

(f) The certificate holder shall obtain prior approval of the office for all projects subject to prior approval review in accordance with Part 551 of this Title.

(g) The certificate holder shall notify the office of any intention to terminate voluntarily its services to persons with mental illness. This notice of intention to terminate voluntarily shall include a statement of the actions which will be taken to assure appropriate referral of persons receiving care or treatment, to preserve the confidentiality of records, and to settle financial accounts according to preexisting individual arrangements. No program shall terminate its services until approval from the office to do so is obtained, patients have been appropriately transferred or discharged, and records have been appropriately preserved and stored.