§ 20-9-205 - Powers and duties of the State Board of Health.
               	 		
20-9-205.    Powers and duties of the State Board of Health.
    (a)  In carrying out this subchapter, the State Board of Health is empowered and directed to:
      (1)  Require  such reports, make such inspections and investigations, and prescribe  and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations as it finds necessary  to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter;
      (2)  Provide  methods of administration and appoint an administrator and other  personnel of the Division of Health Facilities Services;
      (3)  Procure and pay for the temporary services of experts or consultants on a fee-for-service basis;
      (4)  Enter  into agreements for the utilization of the facilities and services of  other departments, agencies, and institutions, public and private;
      (5)  Accept  on behalf of the state, and deposit with the Treasurer of State, any  grant, gift, or contribution of funds made to assist in meeting the cost  of carrying out the purposes of this subchapter, and expend such funds  accordingly;
      (6)  Make an annual report to the Governor on activities and expenditures made pursuant to this subchapter;
      (7)  Procure  the services of an attorney to assist the department in any legal work  involved in carrying out the duties of the department and to pay for the  services on a fee-for-service or retainer basis; and
      (8)  Prescribe  and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations as are necessary to  adopt a uniform billing form for hospitals within the state and to  prescribe penalties for the failure or refusal to utilize and accept  such forms. However, the form must be acceptable by Medicare and its  intermediaries within the state and consistent with the form adopted at  the federal level by Medicare and the National Uniform Billing  Committee.
(b)  The department shall  adopt, promulgate, and enforce such rules, regulations, and standards as  may be necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes of this  subchapter. The rules, regulations, and standards shall be modified,  amended, or rescinded, from time to time, by the department as may be in  the public interest.