2013 Mississippi Code
Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 95 - MISSISSIPPI HEALTH POLICY ACT OF 1994
§ 41-95-3 - Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(a) "Authority" means the Mississippi Health Finance Authority created under Section 41-95-5.

(b) "Board" means the Mississippi Health Finance Authority Board created under Section 41-95-5.

(c) "Health-care facility" means all facilities and institutions, whether public or private, proprietary or nonprofit, which offer diagnosis, treatment, inpatient or ambulatory care to two (2) or more unrelated persons, and shall include, but shall not be limited to, all facilities and institutions included in Section 41-7-173(h).

(d) "Health-care provider" means a person, partnership or corporation, other than a facility or institution, licensed or certified or authorized by state or federal law to provide professional health-care service in this state to an individual during that individual's health care, treatment or confinement.

(e) "Health insurer" means any health insurance company, nonprofit hospital and medical service corporation, health maintenance organization and, to the extent permitted under federal law, any administrator of an insured, self-insured or publicly funded health-care benefit plan offered by public and private entities.

(f) "Resident" means a person who is domiciled in Mississippi as evidenced by an intent to maintain a principal dwelling place in Mississippi indefinitely and to return to Mississippi if temporarily absent, coupled with an act or acts consistent with that intent.

(g) "Primary care" or "primary health care" includes those health-care services provided to individuals, families and communities, at a first level of care, which preserve and improve health, and encompasses services which promote health, prevent disease, treat and cure illness. It is delivered by various health-care providers in a variety of settings including hospital outpatient clinics, private provider offices, group practices, health maintenance organizations, public health departments and community health centers. A primary care system is characterized by coordination of comprehensive services, cultural sensitivity, community orientation, continuity, prevention, the absence of barriers to receive and provide services, and quality assurance.