§34-24-602. Authority and intent.

(a) Authority. The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners shall have the jurisdiction and authority necessary to carry out the provisions and intent of this article.

(b) Intent. The article is intended to require physicians to register under the provisions of this article, and to provide the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners the following powers and duties with respect to all registrants of the Board of Medical Examiners, in addition to its existing authority as a certifying board pursuant to the Alabama Uniform Controlled Substances Act:

(1) To adopt, amend, and repeal such rules and regulations in accordance with the Alabama Pain Management Act for the proper administration and enforcement of this article.

(2) To establish rules regarding the registration of all physicians providing pain management services.

(3) To set reasonable registration and renewal fees.

(4) To renew registrations and set renewal and expiration dates and other deadlines.

(5) To initiate investigations for the purposes of discovering violations of this article.

(6) To administer oaths, subpoena witnesses and documents, including medical records, and take testimony in all matters relating to the board's duties.

(7) To conduct investigative interviews.

(8) To regulate physicians providing pain management services.

(9) To revoke, suspend, reprimand, place on probation, issue terms and conditions, limit practice, fine, require additional training, or otherwise sanction physicians providing pain management services.

(10) To immediately suspend registrations from physicians providing pain management services when they pose an immediate danger to the public health.

(c) In order to prevent abuse, misuse, and conversion of controlled substances, and further administer this article, the board may contract with the Alabama Physician Wellness Committee, or any other nonprofit professional organization or nonprofit society that in its discretion it deems appropriate.

(Act 2013-257, p. 673, §1.)