Cary, N.C.

The North Carolina Association of Medical Equipment Services is working with the state attorney general's office to determine if a state law requiring home medical equipment providers to be licensed extends to out-of-state providers selling equipment in North Carolina.

"We need to make it clear that a license is needed to sell home medical equipment in the state of North Carolina," said Beth Bowen of NCAMES. "If the law is not clear, we need to create legislation that specifically says that a person must be licensed in either North Carolina or another state to sell home medical equipment in North Carolina."

Bowen could not say when the review of the current law would be complete but said it might take time.

In other news, the Respiratory Care Practice Act was awaiting the governor's signature at press time in mid-October. The RCPA, which was championed by NCAMES, requires respiratory therapists to be licensed in North Carolina. If it's approved, NCAMES will name a representative to the board charged with overseeing RT licensing.