§34-24-604. Annual registration.

(a) Beginning January 1, 2014, and continuing each year thereafter:

(1) All physicians providing pain management services shall obtain a pain management registration from the board.

(2) All physicians who otherwise meet the criteria established by the board shall obtain a pain management registration from the board.

(b) To register, a physician applicant shall submit the following to the board:

(1) A completed application on a form prescribed by the board.

(2) Proof of a current drug enforcement administration registration.

(3) Proof of an Alabama controlled substances certificate.

(4) Proof of a current registration with the Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

(5) A list of all registrants who own, co-own, operate, or provide pain management services in the practice location.

(6) The disclosure of any controlled substances certificate or registration denial, restriction, or discipline imposed on the registrant, or any disciplinary act against the license of the registrant.

(7) Payment of the initial registration fee as set forth in this section and in the rules of the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners.

(8) A certification listing the current name of the physician who will serve as the medical director.

(9) Any other information requested by the board related to the qualifications to, or the provision of, providing pain management services.

(c) The applicant shall provide the board with a physical address for each location where he or she provides pain management services and a list of all physicians who work at the practice location, including the name of the physician who will serve as the medical director. For purposes of this subsection, if a practice location is a hospital, the physician applicant is not required to provide the names of physicians at the hospital other than the medical director.

(d) Exemptions. The provisions of this article shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) A hospice program licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Health, or any physicians while performing work for that program.

(2) A facility maintained or operated by the United States or any of its departments, offices, or agencies, or any physicians while performing work for that facility.

(e) The board shall provide individual, entity, and any categorical exemptions as, in its discretion, it deems appropriate.

(f) Any physician who is not included in subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (d) may petition the board for an exemption from the requirements of this section for working at a particular entity. The board shall have the sole discretion in determining whether the requested exemption shall be granted or denied.

(g) Fees.

(1) An initial registration fee is provided in an amount set by the board in its rules not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300).

(2) Renewal fee. A renewal fee is provided in an amount set by the board in its rules not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300).

(h) Miscellaneous.

(1) An applicant practicing in more than one location shall submit a separate registration fee for each practice.

(2) If an applicant does not complete the initial application process within 90 days of his or her first submission to the board, then the application shall be closed, the application fee shall not be refunded, and the applicant shall be required to reapply for registration.

(3) An application which is submitted to the board may be withdrawn at any time prior to the granting or denial of registration; provided, however, that the application fee shall not be refunded.

(i) Renewal.

(1) A registration by a physician under this article shall expire on December 31 of each year.

(2) A registrant may renew a current registration prior to its expiration date by submitting the following to the board:

a. A renewal application form prescribed by the board.

b. The required renewal fee.

c. A certification that each location at which the applicant provides pain management service has a medical director.

d. If the practice location is not a hospital, an attestation that the practice location is not owned wholly or partly by a person who has been convicted of or pled nolo contendre to any of the following:

1. A felony.

2. An offense that constitutes a misdemeanor, the facts of which relate to the distribution or illegal prescription of any controlled substance.

e. Any applicant who has been convicted of a crime described in paragraph d. may request an interview before the board, after which the board may approve or deny the registration.

f. Any other information requested by the board.

(Act 2013-257, p. 673, §1; Act 2014-349, §1.)