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

(b)    “Authorized prescriber” means a licensed physician, licensed podiatrist, or certified advanced practice nurse with prescriptive authority under § 8–508 of this article.

(c)    “Group model health maintenance organization” has the meaning stated in § 19–713.6 of the Health – General Article.

(d)    “Health maintenance organization” has the meaning stated in § 19–701(g) of the Health – General Article.

(e)    (1)    “Institutional facility” means a facility other than a nursing home whose primary purpose is to provide a physical environment for patients to obtain inpatient or emergency care.

(2)    “Institutional facility” does not include an urgent care facility that is not part of a facility.

(f)    “Prescriber–pharmacist agreement” means an agreement between an authorized prescriber and a licensed pharmacist that is disease–state specific and specifies the protocols that may be used.

(g)    “Protocol” means a course of treatment predetermined by the authorized prescriber and licensed pharmacist according to generally accepted medical practice for the proper completion of a particular therapeutic or diagnostic intervention.

(h)    “Therapy management contract” means a voluntary, written arrangement that is:

(1)    Disease–state specific;

(2)    Signed by:

(i)    One licensed pharmacist and the licensed pharmacist’s designated alternate licensed pharmacists;

(ii)    One authorized prescriber and alternate designated authorized prescribers involved directly in patient care; and

(iii)    One patient receiving care from an authorized prescriber and a licensed pharmacist pursuant to a prescriber–pharmacist agreement and protocol under this subtitle; and

(3)    Related to treatment using drug therapy, laboratory tests, or medical devices, under defined conditions or limitations for the purpose of improving patient outcomes.