Section 34-14C-5 Exemptions.

Section 34-14C-5

Exemptions.

The licensure requirements of this chapter do not apply to the following entities or practitioners:

(1) Home health agencies certified by the State of Alabama to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

(2) Hospital based home medical equipment services, whether or not the services are provided through a separate corporation or other business entity.

(3) Health care practitioners legally eligible to order or prescribe home medical equipment, or who use home medical equipment to treat patients in locations other than the patient's residence, including, but not limited to, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, optometrists, chiropractors, and podiatrists, except for those practitioners who provide home medical equipment services in a patient's residence.

(4) Manufacturers and wholesale distributors, when not selling directly to a patient.

(5) Retail community pharmacies, including providers of home infusion therapy services.

(6) Hospice programs, except programs which provide home medical equipment services, including delivery to a patient's residence.

(7) Skilled nursing facilities, except facilities which provide home medical equipment services, including delivery to a patient's residence.

(8) Governmental agencies, including fire districts which provide emergency medical services, and contractors to governmental agencies whose business deals only with the contracted agency.

(9) Mail order companies, if deliveries are made only via common carriers, including the United States Postal Service.

(Act 2000-739, p. 1619, §5.)