(a) Persons desiring to receive a license to operate a home health agency shall file a written application with the secretary on a form prescribed by the secretary.
(b) The application shall be accompanied by a license fee fixed by rules and regulations of the secretary that establish a fee based upon the actual or estimated number of home health unduplicated patients admitted to a home health agency during the prior licensure year. The initial license fee may be greater than subsequent annual fees as established by the secretary by rules and regulations.