ARTICLE 2C. HOME HEALTH SERVICES.

§16-2C-1. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article:

"Home health services" shall mean and include, but not be limited to, the following services furnished to an individual who is under the care of a physician, such services to be provided on a visiting basis in a place of residence used as the individual's home: (1) Part-time or intermittent nursing care provided by or under the supervision of a registered professional nurse; (2) physical, occupational or speech therapy; (3) medical social services under the direction of a physician; (4) part-time or intermittent services of a home health aide.

"Department" shall mean the state department of health.

"Local boards" shall mean local health boards established pursuant to the provisions of article two or two- a of this chapter.

§16-2C-2. Department to provide services; charges for services; authority to employ personnel; purchase of supplies and equipment; assistance to nonprofit agencies.

The department shall provide home health services to those persons living in areas of the state in which adequate home health services are not available otherwise. For such services the department shall, and is hereby authorized to, charge fees to individuals to whom it renders such services or to any governmental agency purchasing such services for individuals, except for demonstration and public health program activities.

In order that it may effectively render home health services, the department shall employ the necessary personnel including nursing and supervisory personnel and shall have the further authority to purchase equipment and materials necessary to maintain an effective program of home health services.

The department shall, wherever possible, assist and advise nonprofit agencies or associations in the development of a home health services program to be carried out by such agencies or associations and, for that purpose, may enter into agreements with these agencies or associations specifying the type of assistance and advice it will render them.

§16-2C-3. Local boards' authority respecting home health services.

Local boards are hereby authorized to enter into written agreements with the department for the purpose of rendering home health services to persons within their respective counties and municipalities. Such agreements shall provide for the maintenance of standards established by the department for home health services by the local boards and for such supervision by the department as is deemed necessary to implement an effective program of home health services on the part of the local boards.

Whenever any local board has entered into an agreement with the department as is herein provided, it may render such home health services as are authorized by this article and for that purpose may charge fees and expend moneys to the same extent as this article authorizes for the department. Any local board may render such service anywhere within the area which it serves.

§16-2C-4. Funds received for home health services.

The department and local boards are authorized to receive moneys from any source for home health services. All such moneys as the department and local boards may receive for this service shall be used to carry out the provisions of this article.

§16-2C-5. Collection of fees for home health services.

The department and local boards are authorized to maintain legal action through the prosecuting attorneys of the several counties for the collection of fees charged for home health services which have been rendered to any person.