Does a long-term care, assisted living or group home in Alabama need a medical director?

Q: Does a long-term care, assisted living or group home in Alabama need a medical director?

Yes. The rule calls the role Medical Director. A physician currently licensed to practice medicine in Alabama. A nurse practitioner or physician assistant may NOT serve in this role.

🏥 Long-Term Care / Assisted Living / Group Home · Alabama

Alabama: medical director and delegated services for a long-term care, assisted living or group home

Whether Alabama requires a physician medical director for a long-term care, assisted living or group home, the qualifications, duties, and what the state says about the staff who deliver protocol-driven services.

Medical directorMedical director required

Research date2026-09-03

Qualifications

A physician currently licensed to practice medicine in Alabama. A nurse practitioner or physician assistant may NOT serve in this role.

Duties the rule assigns

Implementation of resident care policies
Coordination of medical care in the facility
Participation in quality assurance activities

Notes

Confirmed for 'specialty care assisted living facilities' specifically (Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-5-20-.04(6)) — a higher-acuity ALF subtype. Alabama's separate standard assisted living facility rules (Ch. 420-5-4) were not confirmed to carry the same requirement; verify which license type applies before relying on this.

Sources (1)

Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-5-20-.04(6) (Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities — Medical Director)

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