38 C.F.R. § 51.2   Definitions.
Title 38 - Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief

Title 38: Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief
PART 51—PER DIEM FOR NURSING HOME CARE OF VETERANS IN STATE HOMES
Subpart A—General

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§ 51.2   Definitions.

For purposes of this part:

Clinical nurse specialist means a licensed professional nurse with a master's degree in nursing with a major in a clinical nursing specialty from an academic program accredited by the National League for Nursing and at least 2 years of successful clinical practice in the specialized area of nursing practice following this academic preparation.

Facility means a building or any part of a building for which a State has submitted an application for recognition as a State home for the provision of nursing home care or a building or any part of a building which VA has recognized as a State home for the provision of nursing home care.

Nurse practitioner means a licensed professional nurse who is currently licensed to practice in the State; who meets the State's requirements governing the qualifications of nurse practitioners; and who is currently certified as an adult, family, or gerontological nurse practitioner by the American Nurses' Association.

Nursing home care means the accommodation of convalescents or other persons who are not acutely ill and not in need of hospital care, but who require skilled nursing care and related medical services.

Physician means a doctor of medicine or osteopathy legally authorized to practice medicine or surgery in the State.

Physician assistant means a person who meets the applicable State requirements for physician assistant, is currently certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) as a physician assistant, and has an individualized written scope of practice that determines the authorization to write medical orders, prescribe medications and other clinical tasks under appropriate physician supervision which is approved by the primary care physician.

Primary physician or primary care physician means a designated generalist physician responsible for providing, directing and coordinating all health care that is indicated for the residents.

State means each of the several States, territories, and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

State home means a home approved by VA which a State established primarily for veterans disabled by age, disease, or otherwise, who by reason of such disability are incapable of earning a living. A State home may provide domiciliary care, nursing home care, adult day health care, and hospital care. Hospital care may be provided only when the State home also provides domiciliary and/or nursing home care.

VA means the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.