Maryland Health - General Section 19-132

      (a)      In this Part III of this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      "Ambulatory surgical facility" has the meaning stated in § 19-3B-01 of this title.

      (c)      "Comprehensive standard health benefit plan" means the comprehensive standard health benefit plan adopted in accordance with § 15-1207 of the Insurance Article.

      (d)      "Health care practitioner" means any individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article to provide health care services.

      (e)      (1)      "Health care provider" means:

                  (i)      A person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article to provide health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession or in an approved education or training program; or

                  (ii)      A facility where health care is provided to patients or recipients, including:

                        1.      A facility, as defined in § 10-101(e) of this article;

                        2.      A hospital, as defined in § 19-301(g) of this title;

                        3.      A related institution, as defined in § 19-301(o) of this title;

                        4.      A health maintenance organization, as defined in § 19-701(g) of this title;

                        5.      An outpatient clinic; and

                        6.      A medical laboratory.

            (2)      "Health care provider" includes the agents and employees of a facility who are licensed or otherwise authorized to provide health care, the officers and directors of a facility, and the agents and employees of a health care provider who are licensed or otherwise authorized to provide health care.

      (f)      "Health care service" means any health or medical care procedure or service rendered by a health care practitioner that:

            (1)      Provides testing, diagnosis, or treatment of human disease or dysfunction; or

            (2)      Dispenses drugs, medical devices, medical appliances, or medical goods for the treatment of human disease or dysfunction.

      (g)      "Hospital" has the meaning stated in § 19-301(g) of this title.

      (h)      (1)      "Mandated health insurance service" means a legislative proposal or statute that would require a particular health care service to be provided or offered in a health benefit plan, by a carrier or other organization authorized to provide health benefit plans in the State.

            (2)      "Mandated health insurance service", as applicable to all carriers, does not include services enumerated to describe a health maintenance organization under § 19-701(g)(2) of this title.

      (i)      "Nursing facility" has the meaning stated in § 19-1401 of this title.

      (j)      (1)      "Office facility" means the office of one or more health care practitioners in which health care services are provided to individuals.

            (2)      "Office facility" includes a facility that provides:

                  (i)      Ambulatory surgery;

                  (ii)      Radiological or diagnostic imagery; or

                  (iii)      Laboratory services.

            (3)      "Office facility" does not include any office, facility, or service operated by a hospital and regulated under Part II of this subtitle.

      (k)      "Payor" means:

            (1)      A health insurer or nonprofit health service plan that holds a certificate of authority and provides health insurance policies or contracts in the State in accordance with this article or the Insurance Article;

            (2)      A health maintenance organization that holds a certificate of authority in the State; or

            (3)      For the purposes of this Part III of this subtitle only, a person that is registered as an administrator under Title 8, Subtitle 3 of the Insurance Article.