(a) General rule.--The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

"Ancillary health services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by ancillary health service providers as defined herein.

"Ancillary health service providers." The following persons duly licensed or certified under the laws of this Commonwealth to provide ancillary health services: Clinical laboratory permittees as defined in the act of September 26, 1951 (P.L.1539, No.389), known as The Clinical Laboratory Act.

"Chiropractic services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by doctors of chiropractic, as defined in the act of August 10, 1951 (P.L.1182, No.264), known as the Chiropractic Registration Act of 1951.

"Clinical social work services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by licensed clinical social workers, as defined by the "practice of clinical social work" in the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act.

"Dental service corporation." A corporation not-for-profit engaged in the business of maintaining and operating a nonprofit dental service plan.

"Dental services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by doctors of dental surgery, as defined in the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.76), known as The Dental Law.

"Department of Health." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.

"General medical service corporation." A corporation not-for-profit engaged in the business of maintaining and operating a nonprofit professional health service plan.

"Health care facility." As defined in the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act.

"Health service doctor." Any health care professional duly licensed or certified under Commonwealth statute regulating a particular branch of health care practice, including, but not limited to, doctor of dental surgery, doctor of medicine, doctor of optometry, doctor of osteopathy, doctor of podiatry, doctor of chiropractic, licensed physical therapist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed occupational therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified registered nurse practitioner, certified enterostomal therapy nurse, certified community health nurse, certified psychiatric mental health nurse, certified clinical nurse specialist, licensed psychologist, licensed speech-language pathologist, licensed audiologist or licensed teacher of persons who are hearing impaired.

"Income." Net income from gains, profits and net income derived from professions, vocations, trades, businesses, commerce or sales, or dealings in property, whether real or personal, growing out of the ownership or use of or interest in such property, also from interest, rent, dividends, securities, or the transaction of any business carried on for gain or profit, or gains or profits and income derived from any source whatever and income derived from salaries, wages or compensation for personal service of whatever kind and in whatever form paid.

"Licensed marriage and family therapy services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by persons licensed pursuant to 49 Pa. Code Ch. 48 (relating to State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors-Licensure of Marriage and Family Therapists).

"Licensed professional counseling services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by persons licensed pursuant to 49 Pa. Code Ch. 49 (relating to State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors-Licensure of Professional Counselors).

"Low income." Low income as set forth in section 6325 (relating to income status and effect).

"Medical services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by doctors of medicine, as defined in the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985.

"Nonprofit dental service plan." A plan whereby for prepayment, periodical or lump sum payment dental services only may be provided to persons of low income or over-income and their dependents.

"Nonprofit optometric service plan." A plan whereby for prepayment, periodical or lump sum payment optometric services only may be provided to persons of low income and over-income and their dependents.

"Nonprofit professional health service plan." A plan whereby for prepayment, periodical or lump sum payment professional health services may be provided to persons of low income or over-income and their dependents. The term does not include a plan which is primarily a nonprofit dental service plan or a nonprofit optometric service plan.

"Occupational therapy services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by licensed occupational therapists, as defined by "occupational therapy" in the act of June 15, 1982 (P.L.502, No.140), known as the Occupational Therapy Practice Act.

"Optometric service corporation." A corporation not-for-profit engaged in the business of maintaining and operating a nonprofit optometric service plan.

"Optometric services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by doctors of optometry, as defined in the act of June 6, 1980 (P.L.197, No.57), known as the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act.

"Osteopathic services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by doctors of osteopathy, as defined in the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.

"Over-income." Over-income as set forth in section 6325 (relating to income status and effect).

"Person with dependents." Any person who furnishes other persons with their chief support, whether or not such dependent person is related to or living with him.

"Physical therapy services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by licensed physical therapists, as defined as "physical therapy" in the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110), known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act.

"Podiatry services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by doctors of podiatry, as defined in the act of March 2, 1956 (1955 P.L.1206, No.375), known as the Podiatry Practice Act.

"Professional health service corporation." A dental service corporation, a general medical service corporation, or an optometric service corporation.

"Professional health services." Professional services provided by a duly licensed health service doctor, provided that the services are medically necessary.

"Psychological services." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by licensed psychologists as defined as the "practice of psychology" in the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), known as the Professional Psychologists Practice Act.

"Speech-language pathology services," "audiology services" and "services of teachers of persons who are hearing impaired." The general and usual services rendered and care administered by licensed speech-language pathologists, licensed teachers of persons who are hearing impaired or licensed audiologists, as defined in the act of December 21, 1984 (P.L.1253, No.238), known as the Speech-Language and Hearing Licensure Act.

"Subscribers of low income." Persons of low income who subscribe to a nonprofit professional health service plan, a nonprofit dental service plan or a nonprofit optometric service plan.

"Subscribers of over-income." Persons of over-income who subscribe to a nonprofit professional health service plan, a nonprofit dental service plan or a nonprofit optometric service plan.

(b) Rule of construction.--The definitions specified in subsection (a) are for the purposes of this chapter only and not for the purpose of defining dental practice, medical practice, optometric practice, osteopathic practice, podiatry practice, chiropractic practice, physical therapy practice, psychological practice, speech-language pathology practice, audiology practice or the practice of teaching persons who are hearing impaired as such.

(Oct. 10, 1980, P.L.801, No.151, eff. 90 days; Mar. 30, 1982, P.L.220, No.70, eff. imd.; Nov. 17, 1982, P.L.681, No.193, eff. 60 days; Apr. 20, 1988, P.L.363, No.57, eff. 60 days; Apr. 21, 1994, P.L.124, No.14, eff. 60 days; Oct. 9, 2008, P.L.1393, No.108, eff. 120 days)

2008 Amendment. Act 108 amended the defs. of "health service doctor" and "professional health services" and added the defs. of "clinical social work services," "licensed marriage and family therapy services," "licensed professional counseling services" and "occupational therapy services."

References in Text. The act of August 10, 1951, P.L.1182, No.264, known as the Chiropractic Registration Act of 1951, referred to in the def. of "chiropractic services," was repealed by the act of December 16, 1986, P.L.1646, No.188, known as the Chiropractic Practice Act.

Cross References. Section 6302 is referred to in section 102 of Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations).