Moundville, Ala. A proposal for a "lemon law" targeting durable medical equipment is being hammered out in Alabama with the help of the Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association.

While association officials say the bill probably won't be finalized during the current legislative session, they say they are moving closer to an agreement with legislators on final provisions of the bill. The sides were far apart when the bill was introduced. Authored by state Sen. Phil Poole, it called for providers to supply a two-year warranty on DME that did not differentiate between required and recommended repairs to be made. That, said ADMEA president Michael Hamilton, "would make it difficult for DME suppliers to do business." The initial bill also required that repairs be done in 10 days and that providers supply an equivalent loaner twice in one year or refund customers for money and inconvenience, he added.

The new version of the bill includes providers' input, Hamilton said. "We have been able to agree on shortening the warranty time to one year, extend the period for repair time to 30 days, and the new legislation does not permit arbitration," he said. "It's not likely to pass this legislative session, but I'm sure we will come up with something that benefits everyone when this thing is finally passed."