Each home health agency for which a license has been issued shall be periodically inspected by an authorized representative of the department. Such inspections shall be for the purpose of ensuring that this article is being followed. The department is directed to ensure by inspection that the licensee is providing quality care to its patients in accordance with the orders of the patient's physician; provided, however, that an agency shall be exempt from an additional on-site licensure inspection if certified in a federal program for reimbursement of medicare or Medicaid services.
(Ga. L. 1980, p. 1790, § 6.)