SB140 Summary

• Eliminates the requirement that the Alabama Department of Public Health publish and mail a printed directory of all licensed hospitals to licensed inpatient hospitals, licensed hospices, and certified home health agencies every three months.

• Requires the Department of Public Health to maintain a current directory of all licensed hospitals in electronic format and available on the Internet in a searchable database showing licensure status for the preceding four years and the current year.

• Allows the Department to provide weekly electronic updates to designated representatives of licensed inpatient hospitals regarding changes to the hospital directory upon written request.

• Licensed inpatient hospitals, hospices, and certified home health agencies are prohibited from knowingly referring patients or providing services to unlicensed hospitals, with violations subject to civil penalties up to $1,500 per instance.

• Directs civil monetary penalties collected to the Department of Human Resources for a dedicated fund to assist protected persons with placement or relocation from unlicensed facilities to licensed facilities.