HB226 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ron Johnson
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Home Medical Equipment Board, Home Medical Equipment Services Providers Board, renamed, removal of board members, employment of administrator, practicing without a license, penalties, renewal of lapsed license, fees, grounds for revoking, denying, or suspending provided, Sec. 34-14C-1, 34-14C-2, 34-14C-3, 34-14C-4, 34-14C-4.1, 34-14C-5, 34-14C-6, 34-14C-7, 34-14C-8 am'd.
Summary: HB226 renames the Home Medical Equipment Services Providers Board to the Board of Home Medical Equipment and gives it broad licensing, regulation, and enforcement powers over home medical equipment providers, including out-of-state providers, plus staffing, funding, and sunset provisions.
What This Bill Does
The bill changes the board’s name and lets it hire an executive director and staff, adopt a seal, and set reasonable fees. It requires licensing for all providers (including those based outside Alabama) and prohibits unlicensed practice, with rules for late renewals and lapsed licenses. It authorizes the board to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses, hold disciplinary hearings, and impose fines, injunctions, and other penalties. It also creates a dedicated fund to run the program and adds inspection and provisional-licensing processes, along with exemptions for certain entities.

Who It Affects
In-state and out-of-state home medical equipment services providers: must obtain and renew licenses, may be inspected, and face penalties for noncompliance.
Consumers of home medical equipment services: gain stronger protections through regulated standards, inspections, and the possibility of restitution or enforcement actions against violators.

Key Provisions
Rename the board to the Board of Home Medical Equipment and authorize removal of board members for specified reasons with vacancy filling procedures.
Authorize the board to employ an executive director and other staff, adopt a seal, and establish and collect fees to fund operations.
License out-of-state providers and require in-state locations for those with a principal place of business outside Alabama; prohibit unlicensed practice.
Set licensure rules including annual licenses, renewal procedures, late renewal grace periods, and lapse provisions requiring reapplication for licensure.
Provide for provisional licenses (up to six months) for providers not initially meeting standards and require reinspection before full licensure.
Empower the board to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses; establish a detailed disciplinary process with hearings, penalties (including fines up to $1,000 per day and restitution), and possible injunctions.
Allow inspections before and after licensure, during renewals, and in response to complaints, with standards for inspectors and limits on out-of-state inspections.
Create a separate Home Medical Equipment Services Fund to hold all related receipts and govern expenditures by budget rules.
Declare exemptions from licensure for certain entities (e.g., Medicare-certified home health agencies, hospital-based services, licensed practitioners, manufacturers, pharmacies, hospices, government agencies, mail-order firms).
Subject the board to the Alabama Sunset Law with a termination-and-recontinuation process every four years.
Establish venue for proceedings (Montgomery County) and provide appeal pathways to the courts as allowed by the Administrative Procedure Act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Home Medical Equipment Services Providers, Board of