As used in this section and in section 3701.861 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Anatomic pathology services" means all of the following:

(1) Histopathology or surgical pathology;

(2) Cytopathology;

(3) Hematology;

(4) Subcellular or molecular pathology;

(5) Blood banking services performed by pathologists.

(B) "Assignment of benefits" means the transfer of health care coverage reimbursement benefits or other rights under an insurance policy, subscription contract, or health care plan by an insured, subscriber, or plan enrollee to a health care provider, hospital, or other health care facility.

(C) "Clinical laboratory" means a facility for the biological, microbiological, serological, chemical, immunohematological, hematological, biophysical, cytological, pathological, or other examination of substances derived from the human body for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any disease, or in the assessment or impairment of the health of human beings.

(D) "Cytopathology" means the microscopic examination of cells from fluids, aspirates, washings, brushings, or smears, including a Papanicolaou smear (PAP smear or test).

(E) "Hematology" means the microscopic evaluation of bone marrow aspirates and biopsies performed by a physician or under the supervision of a physician and peripheral blood smears when the attending or treating physician or technologist requests that a blood smear be reviewed by a pathologist.

(F) "Histologic processing" means fixation, processing, embedding, microtomy, and other special staining, including histochemical or immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization of clinical human tissues or cells, for pathological examination.

(G) "Histopathology" or "surgical pathology" means the gross and microscopic examination and histologic processing of organ tissue performed by a physician or under the supervision of a physician.

(H) "Insurer" means a person authorized under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code to engage in the business of insurance in this state, a health insuring corporation, or an entity that is self-insured and provides benefits to its employees or members.

(I) "Physician" means an individual authorized by Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery.

(J) "Referring clinical laboratory" means a clinical laboratory that refers a patient specimen to another clinical laboratory for an anatomic pathology service, but excludes a laboratory in the office of one or more physicians that refers a specimen and does not perform the professional component of the anatomic pathology service, as that component is defined in section 4731.72 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Subcellular or molecular pathology" means the assessment of a patient specimen for the detection, localization, measurement, or analysis of one or more protein or nucleic acid targets performed or interpreted by or under supervision of a pathologist.

Effective Date: 2008 HB493 04-07-2009.