26:2J-2. Definitions

a. "Commissioner" means the State Commissioner of Health.

b. "Basic health care services" means those services, including but not limited to emergency care, inpatient hospital and physician care, and outpatient medical services, designated by regulations promulgated by the commissioner.

c. "Health care services" includes basic health care services and any additional services designated by regulations promulgated by the commissioner.

d. "Enrollee" means an individual who has been enrolled with a health maintenance organization.

e. "Evidence of coverage" means any booklet, certificate, agreement, or contract issued to an enrollee setting out the services and other benefits to which he is entitled.

f. "Health maintenance organization" means any person which directly or through contracts with providers furnishes at least basic comprehensive health care services on a prepaid basis to enrollees in a designated geographical area.

g. "Person" means any natural or artificial person including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts, or corporations.

h. "Provider" means any physician, hospital, or other person which is licensed or otherwise authorized in this State to furnish health care services.

i. "Health care facility" means the facility or institution whether public or private, engaged in providing services for health maintenance organizations, diagnosis or treatment of human disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition, including, but not limited to, a general hospital, special hospital, mental hospital, public health center, diagnostic center, treatment center, rehabilitation center, extended care facility, skilled nursing home, nursing home, intermediate care facility, tuberculosis hospital, chronic disease hospital, maternity hospital, outpatient clinic, dispensary, home health care agency, boarding home or other home for the sheltered care of adult persons and bio-analytical laboratory or central services facility serving one or more such institutions but excluding institutions that provide healing solely by prayer.

L.1973, c. 337, s. 2, eff. Dec. 27, 1973.