354.650. Definitions. - Missouri Statutes

Definitions.

354.650. As used in sections 354.650 to 354.658, the following termsmean:

(1) "Department", the department of health and senior services;

(2) "Essential community provider", an individual physician, licensedpursuant to the provisions of chapter 334, RSMo, who meets the requirementsset forth in section 354.652;

(3) "Health care insurer", any health maintenance organization licensedin the state of Missouri;

(4) "Health professional shortage area", an area designated by theSecretary of Health and Human Services as such pursuant to the guidelinesestablished in Section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Service Act;

(5) "Medically underserved area", an area designated by the Secretary ofHealth and Human Services as such pursuant to the guidelines established inSection 42 U.S.C. 254c(b)(3);

(6) "Medically underserved population", eligible persons designated bythe Secretary of Health and Human Services as such pursuant to the guidelinesestablished in 42 U.S.C. 254c(b)(3);

(7) "National committee for quality assurance", a private not-for-profitorganization created to promote improvements in the quality of patient careprovided through managed care plans. The committee's primary function is todevelop and provide oversight processes, performance measurement andaccreditation for health plans, and to provide information on quality to thepublic, consumers, purchasers, health plans and other relevant parties;

(8) "Principal site", the private office of a primary care or specialistphysician located within a medically underserved area or health professionalshortage area in which initial patient care appointments, routine patient careexaminations, routine patient treatments and patient care follow-up occur.The term "principal site" shall not include hospitals, laboratories, nursinghomes, hospice centers, surgical centers and federally funded clinics.

(L. 1998 H.B. 1302 § 1)