(a) No person, partnership, corporation, or association of persons shall operate a facility or institution for the care or treatment of any kind of mental or emotional illness or substance abuse or for providing services to persons with an intellectual disability as defined in this chapter, without being certified by the department or licensed by the State Board of Health; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed so as to require a duly authorized physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, licensed professional counselor operating under the scope of his or her license, or Christian Science practitioner to obtain a license for treatment of patients in his private office, unless he keeps two or more patients in his office for continuous periods of 24 hours or more in one week, or that a church or ministry be certified which provides only religious services.
(b) No part of this section shall be construed as a mandate for an insurance policy, plan, or contract to offer or provide new or additional coverage benefits, or require any payment or prepayment to any person by any insurer or health care service plan.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 22 - Health, Mental Health, and Environmental Control.
Chapter 50 - Department of Mental Health; Board of Trustees.
Article 1 - General Provisions.
Section 22-50-1 - Definitions.
Section 22-50-2 - Department - Created; Composition; Divisions; Offices.
Section 22-50-2.1 - Department - Name Changed; Transition Period.
Section 22-50-3 - Department - Disposition of Fees, Receipts and Income.
Section 22-50-4 - Department - Public Corporation.
Section 22-50-5 - Board of Trustees - Membership; Officers; Initial Appointments; Terms.
Section 22-50-6 - Board of Trustees - Subsequent Appointments to Board; Vacancies.
Section 22-50-8 - Board of Trustees - Expenses of Trustees.
Section 22-50-9 - Department - Powers Generally.
Section 22-50-11 - Department - Additional and Cumulative Powers.
Section 22-50-12 - Department - Legal Division.
Section 22-50-13 - Department - Annual Report.
Section 22-50-14 - Department - Requests for Budget Funds.
Section 22-50-15 - Funds for Essential Functions.
Section 22-50-16 - Commissioner of Mental Health.
Section 22-50-18 - Commitment and Release of Incompetents, Etc.
Section 22-50-19 - Judicial Review of Final Order or Decision by Department.
Section 22-50-21 - Police Officers for State Mental Health Facilities or Hospitals.
Section 22-50-23 - Penalties for Violation of Chapter, Etc.
Section 22-50-24 - Repeal of Conflicting Laws; Certain Laws Not Repealed.