Maryland Health - General Section 19-3B-01

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

      (b)      (1)      "Ambulatory surgical facility" means any center, service, office facility, or other entity that:

                  (i)      Operates primarily for the purpose of providing surgical services to patients requiring a period of postoperative observation but not requiring overnight hospitalization; and

                  (ii)      Seeks reimbursement from payors as an ambulatory surgery center.

            (2)      "Ambulatory surgical facility" does not include:

                  (i)      The office of one or more health care practitioners seeking only professional reimbursement for the provisions of medical services, unless:

                        1.      The office operates under contract or other agreement with a payor as an ambulatory surgical facility regardless of whether it is paid a technical or facility fee; or

                        2.      The office is designated to receive ambulatory surgical referrals in accordance with utilization review or other policies adopted by a payor;

                  (ii)      Any facility or service owned or operated by a hospital and regulated under Subtitle 2 of this title;

                  (iii)      The office of a health care practitioner with not more than one operating room if:

                        1.      The office does not receive a technical or facility fee; and

                        2.      The operating room is used exclusively by the health care practitioner for patients of the health care practitioner;

                  (iv)      The office of a group of health care practitioners with not more than one operating room if:

                        1.      The office does not receive a technical or facility fee; and

                        2.      The operating room is used exclusively by members of the group practice for patients of the group practice; or

                  (v)      An office owned or operated by one or more dentists licensed under the Health Occupations Article.

      (c)      "Freestanding ambulatory care facility" means:

            (1)      An ambulatory surgical facility;

            (2)      A freestanding endoscopy facility;

            (3)      A freestanding facility utilizing major medical equipment;

            (4)      A kidney dialysis center; or

            (5)      A freestanding birthing center.

      (d)      (1)      "Freestanding birthing center" means a facility that provides nurse midwife services under Title 8, Subtitle 6 of the Health Occupations Article.

            (2)      "Freestanding birthing center" does not include:

                  (i)      A hospital regulated under Subtitle 2 of this title; or

                  (ii)      The private residence of the mother.

      (e)      (1)      "Freestanding endoscopy facility" means a facility:

                  (i)      For the testing, diagnosis, or treatment of a medical disorder in conjunction with the use of microscopic, endoscopic, or laparoscopic equipment that is inserted in a naturally occurring orifice of the body; and

                  (ii)      That seeks reimbursement as a freestanding endoscopy facility from payors or Medicare.

            (2)      "Freestanding endoscopy facility" does not include:

                  (i)      The office of one or more health care practitioners unless:

                        1.      The office operates under a contract or other agreement with a payor as a freestanding endoscopy facility regardless of whether it is paid a technical or facility fee; or

                        2.      The office is designated to receive endoscopic referrals in accordance with utilization review or other policies adopted by a payor; or

                  (ii)      Any facility or service operated by a hospital and regulated under Subtitle 2 of this title.

      (f)      (1)      "Freestanding facility operating major medical equipment" means a facility using major medical equipment.

            (2)      "Freestanding facility operating major medical equipment" does not include any facility or service owned or operated by a hospital and regulated under Subtitle 2 of this title.

      (g)      "Health care practitioner" means a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article to provide medical services in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.

      (h)      (1)      "Kidney dialysis center" means a facility that provides hemodialysis or chronic peritoneal dialysis.

            (2)      "Kidney dialysis center" does not include any facility or service owned or operated by a hospital and regulated under Subtitle 2 of this title.

      (i)      "License" means a license issued by the Secretary under this subtitle.

      (j)      "Major medical equipment" means:

            (1)      Cardiac catheterization equipment;

            (2)      A computer tomography (CT) scanner;

            (3)      A lithotripter;

            (4)      Radiation therapy equipment, including a linear accelerator; or

            (5)      A magnetic resonance imager (MRI).

      (k)      "Payor" means:

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

            (2)      A third party administrator or any other entity under contract with a Maryland business to administer health benefits; or

            (3)      A self-insured group.

      (l)      "Surgical services" means any invasive procedure whether therapeutic or diagnostic involving the use of:

            (1)      Any cutting instrument;

            (2)      Microscopic, endoscopic, arthroscopic, or laparoscopic equipment; or

            (3)      A laser for the removal or repair of an organ or other tissue.