Sec. 1458.001. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Affiliate" means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person.

(2) "Contracting entity" means a person who:

(A) enters into a direct contract with a provider for the delivery of health care services to covered individuals; and

(B) in the ordinary course of business establishes a provider network or networks for access by another party.

(3) "Covered individual" means an individual who is covered under a health benefit plan.

(4) "Express authority" means a provider's consent that is obtained through separate signature lines for each line of business.

(5) "Health care services" means services provided for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or cure of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease.

(6) "Person" has the meaning assigned by Section 823.002.

(7)(A) "Provider" means:

(i) an advanced practice nurse;

(ii) an optometrist;

(iii) a therapeutic optometrist;

(iv) a physician;

(v) a physician assistant;

(vi) a professional association composed solely of physicians, optometrists, or therapeutic optometrists;

(vii) a single legal entity authorized to practice medicine owned by two or more physicians;

(viii) a nonprofit health corporation certified by the Texas Medical Board under Chapter 162, Occupations Code;

(ix) a partnership composed solely of physicians, optometrists, or therapeutic optometrists;

(x) a physician-hospital organization that acts exclusively as an administrator for a provider to facilitate the provider's participation in health care contracts; or

(xi) an institution that is licensed under Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code.

(B) "Provider" does not include a physician-hospital organization that leases or rents the physician-hospital organization's network to another party.

(8) "Provider network contract" means a contract between a contracting entity and a provider for the delivery of, and payment for, health care services to a covered individual.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 197 (S.B. 822), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.