Title 22 — Title 22

of Health Not to Discriminate Among Branches of Healing Arts in Administration of Funds. (a) The State Board of Health, with the advice and consultation of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt, revise, abolish, promulgate and publ…

There is hereby appropriated to the State Board of Health any funds held by the State Treasury for the State Board of Health planning, health resource development, health care facilities construction or for administrative purposes, and there is hereby appropriated to the State Bo…

Members; Officers; Meetings; Vacancies; Appointment of Consultants and Task Forces; Compensation of Members of Council and Members of Task Forces. There shall be established an advisory council, to be designated the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, which shall advise and co…

(a) The Statewide Health Coordinating Council shall advise and serve as consultants to the State Board of Health regarding policies and regulations necessary for carrying out this article. (b) In addition, the council shall perform the following functions: (1) Review annually and…

The health systems agencies designated by the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, in coordination with the Governor, shall provide those functions accorded to them in Section 1513 of PL 93-641 (42 U.S.C. §3001-2) for their designated health service areas…

The Legislature of Alabama hereby finds and declares that physicians engaged in family practice are in critical short supply in Alabama, and further, that the distribution of such numbers that are available has created many areas of shortage, especially in the underserved rural a…

(a) There is hereby created an 11 member “Family Practice Rural Health Board,” with each member serving a six year term unless otherwise specified. The board shall consist of the following membership: (1) Two members representing the medically underserved rural areas to be appoin…

The board may assist in determining and prioritizing the medically underserved areas where there exist unmet needs for family physicians. History: (Acts 1990, No. 90-714, §3.)

The board shall not allocate any funds pursuant to this chapter to any family practice residency program unless it is accredited by the American Academy of Family Physicians or the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, or both, and meets the standards and guidelines …

The board shall allocate the funds appropriated through the Public Health Department for Family Practice Rural Health Programs. The Health Department shall distribute the funds as allocated by the board except for sufficient amounts necessary to cover the per diem, mileage and pr…

The board shall assist in identifying any unmet needs relating to the medically underserved rural areas of the state and any available resources that could be applied toward those needs. The board shall submit an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the …

Nothing in this chapter is intended or shall be construed as granting the board any governing or administrative authority over any programs administered by any university medical school in this state or any other program established pursuant to state law. History: (Acts 1990, No.…

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings respectively ascribed to them: (1) BOARD or BOARD OF HEALTH. The Alabama State Board of Health. (2) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Public Health. (3) RURAL AREA or UNDERSERVED AREA. Any…

The Legislature of Alabama finds that there exists a critical shortage of registered nurses who are willing and able to provide health care to citizens in rural areas of Alabama. Such shortage is particularly acute in rural areas, and has a negative impact on the availability of …

(a) Within the limits of the funds appropriated for or otherwise available to the loan program, the board shall be authorized to grant to each applicant deemed by the board to be qualified, a loan for the purposes of acquiring a nursing degree as defined in Section 22- 4B-1, upon…

Due and Payable Upon Demand for Failure to Remain Employed or for Withdrawal from School. Any recipient who is granted a loan by the board shall be granted a loan in an amount authorized by the board, not to exceed $20,000.00, plus the employee’s salary, if paid by the board whil…

The Board of Health is hereby authorized to expend available funds to offer loans and pay salaries to employees attending nursing school under such loan program as provided in this chapter. History: (Acts 1991, No. 91-616, p. 1154, §5.)

At the option of the board, recipients attending nursing school may be granted paid educational leave during times of such attendance. Employees attending school full-time shall be assigned duties in the health department on weekdays, except state holidays, when school is not in …

Loan funds shall not be disbursed directly to loan recipients. The board shall enter into agreements with all participating approved educational institutions whereby such institution shall be periodically reimbursed for tuition, books, fees, uniforms, and other associated costs i…

For the purposes of this chapter, “physical fitness” means good or improved habits relating to recreation, exercises, sports and the use of leisure time and instructions for these purposes and for improving the physique and health of the residents of the state. History: (Acts 196…

There is hereby created a State Commission on Physical Fitness, which hereafter may be referred to as the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness, for the purpose of protecting, promoting and improving the physical fitness of the residents of the state. History: (Acts 1967, No.…

(a) The commission shall consist of seven members, including a chairman, one from each U.S. Congressional District and all to be appointed by the Governor. They shall be selected because of their experience or interest in physical fitness for both youth and adults and shall serve…

The commission shall meet regularly at the call of the Governor, the executive director, or the chairman. Four commissioners shall constitute a quorum. The commission shall adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary and proper to govern its procedure and business. History:…

The commission shall maintain liaison with the State Department of Education, county and city boards of education, private and parochial schools, and physical fitness commissions of the several political subdivisions of this state, now or hereafter created, and comparable agencie…

(a) The Governor, upon recommendation of the commission, shall appoint an executive director of the commission. Such director shall serve as secretary of the commission and as chief administrator and executive officer of the commission, having general charge of the work of the co…

The executive director shall, subject to the State Merit System Law, appoint professional, technical, clerical, stenographic and other personnel to carry out the duties and functions of the commission. History: (Acts 1967, No. 215, p. 580, §5; Acts 1979, No. 79-617, p. 1087.)

The commission shall make an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, including therein suggestions and recommendations for protecting and improving the physical fitness of the state. History: (Acts 1967, No. 215, p. 580, §7.)

The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to accept from the federal government, or any instrumentality thereof, or from any person, firm or corporation in the name of and for the state, services, equipment, supplies, materials or funds by way of gift or grant for the pur…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Long-term Residential Health Care Recipient Ombudsman Act.” History: (Acts 1985, No. 85-657, p. 1029, §1.)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section: (1) ADMINISTRATOR. Any person charged with the general administration or supervision of a health care, domiciliary or residential facility without regard to whether suc…

The State Ombudsman and the department are hereby authorized to investigate complaints concerning health care, domiciliary and residential care facilities. The State Ombudsman shall promote the well-being and quality of life of long-term residential health care recipients and enc…

Department as to Prospective Ombudsmen; Advisory Committee on Program. (a) Each area agency on aging funded by the department shall select at least one community ombudsman in each planning and service area established according to regulations issued pursuant to the Older American…

The State Ombudsman shall establish written procedures for receiving complaints involving long-term residential health care facilities and their employees. The Department of Senior Services shall provide to health care, domiciliary and residential facilities written information o…

(a) A community ombudsman’s access to any health care facility shall be limited to standard operating hours unless prior arrangements with the operator of the facility has been made. If the complaint involves more than one provider or alleges to involve more than one provider, th…

Any person or agency who in good faith participates in the making of a report or provides information or evidence in direct accordance with the procedures for resolving complaints under the provisions of this chapter shall, in so doing, be immune from any liability, civil or crim…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network Act.” History: (Act 2012-410, p. 1115, §1.)

(a) The legislative findings, purpose, and intent of this chapter are to develop the infrastructure for a statewide network of lifespan respite programs in Alabama and for Alabama Respite to be the statewide entity to address issues relating to respite care in our state. (b) The …

When used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings: (1) ADULT WITH SPECIAL NEED. A person 19 years of age or older who requires care or supervision to meet the person’s basic needs or prevent physical self-injury or injury to others, or avoid placeme…

There is created the Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network as the statewide entity that shall do the following: (1) Address issues relating to respite care in our state. (2) Maintain a statewide system that facilitates the availability and use of high quality, cost-effective …

(a) There is created the Alabama Lifespan Respite Coalition composed of members who shall be culturally, economically, and geographically diverse and representative of the state demographics and appointed by the Governor or his or her designee. The membership may include, but is …

(a) The Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network shall be designated as the entity to facilitate a minimum of two meetings per year for the Alabama Lifespan Respite Coalition and to coordinate activities and initiatives of the coalition and that the Alabama Lifespan Respite Coal…

The purpose of this chapter is to improve consumer awareness of patient centered and family focused palliative care in this state by establishing a State Advisory Council on Palliative Care and Quality of Life within the State Health Department and to provide for the establishmen…

(a) Not later than November 23, 2015, the State Health Department shall establish a State Advisory Council on Palliative Care and Quality of Life within the department. (b) The council membership shall be appointed by the State Health Officer and shall include interdisciplinary p…

(a) There is created a statewide Palliative Care Information and Education Program in the State Health Department. The purpose of the palliative care information and education program is to maximize the effectiveness of palliative care initiatives in the state by ensuring that co…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Gabe Griffin Right to Try Act. History: (Act 2015-320, §1.)

This chapter does not create a private cause of action against a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device or against any licensed health care provider, other person, or entity involved in the care of an eligible patient using the investigational drug…

As used in this chapter, the following words have the following meanings: (1) ELIGIBLE PATIENT. An individual who meets all of the following conditions: a. Has a terminal illness, attested to by the patient’s treating physician. b. Has considered all other treatment options curre…

(a) The manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make available and an eligible patient may request the manufacturer’s investigational drug, biological product, or device under this chapter. This chapter does not require that a manufacturer make …

(a) This chapter does not expand the coverage required of an insurer. (b) A health plan, third party administrator, or governmental agency is not required to provide coverage for the cost of an investigational drug, biological product, or device, or the cost of services related t…

If a patient dies while being treated by an investigational drug, biological product, or device, the patient’s heirs are not liable for any outstanding debt related to the treatment or lack of insurance due to the treatment. History: (Act 2015-320, §5.)