Sec. 31.002. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter:

(1) "Facility" includes a hospital, ambulatory surgical center, public health clinic, birthing center, outpatient clinic, and community health center.

(2) "Medical transportation" means transportation services that are required to obtain appropriate and timely primary health care services for eligible individuals.

(3) "Other benefit" means a benefit, other than a benefit provided under this chapter, to which an individual is entitled for payment of the costs of primary health care services, including benefits available from:

(A) an insurance policy, group health plan, or prepaid medical care plan;

(B) Title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395 et seq. or Section 1396 et seq.);

(C) the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

(D) the TRICARE program of the United States Department of Defense;

(E) workers' compensation or any other compulsory employers' insurance program;

(F) a public program created by federal or state law, or by an ordinance or rule of a municipality or political subdivision of the state, excluding benefits created by the establishment of a municipal or county hospital, a joint municipal-county hospital, a county hospital authority, a hospital district, or the facilities of a publicly supported medical school; or

(G) a cause of action for medical, facility, or medical transportation expenses, or a settlement or judgment based on the cause of action, if the expenses are related to the need for services provided under this chapter.

(4) "Primary health care services" includes:

(A) diagnosis and treatment;

(B) emergency services;

(C) family planning services;

(D) preventive health services, including immunizations;

(E) health education;

(F) laboratory, X-ray, nuclear medicine, or other appropriate diagnostic services;

(G) nutrition services;

(H) health screening;

(I) home health care;

(J) dental care;

(K) transportation;

(L) prescription drugs and devices and durable supplies;

(M) environmental health services;

(N) podiatry services; and

(O) social services.

(5) "Program" means the primary health care services program authorized by this chapter.

(6) "Provider" means a person who, through a grant or a contract with the department, provides primary health care services that are purchased by the department for the purposes of this chapter.

(7) "Support" means the contribution of money or services necessary for a person's maintenance, including food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and health care.

(b) The executive commissioner by rule may define a word or term not defined by Subsection (a) as necessary to administer this chapter. The executive commissioner may not define a word or term so that the word or term is inconsistent or in conflict with the purposes of this chapter, or is in conflict with the definition and conditions of practice governing a provider who is required to be licensed, registered, certified, identified, or otherwise sanctioned under the laws of this state.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0066, eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0067, eff. April 2, 2015.