Section 12-6 - A-01. Definitions.

§ 12-6A-01. Definitions.
 

(a)  In general.- In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(b)  Group model health maintenance organization.- "Group model health maintenance organization" has the meaning stated in § 19-713.6 of the Health - General Article. 

(c)  Health maintenance organization.- "Health maintenance organization" has the meaning stated in § 19-701(g) of the Health - General Article. 

(d)  Institutional facility.-  

(1) "Institutional facility" means a facility other than a nursing home whose primary purpose is to provide a physical environment for patients to obtain inpatient or emergency care. 

(2) "Institutional facility" does not include an urgent care facility that is not part of a facility. 

(e)  Licensed physician.- "Licensed physician" means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine under Title 14 of this article. 

(f)  Physician-pharmacist agreement.- "Physician-pharmacist agreement" means an approved agreement between a licensed physician and a licensed pharmacist that is disease-state specific and specifies the protocols that may be used. 

(g)  Protocol.- "Protocol" means a course of treatment predetermined by the licensed physician and licensed pharmacist according to generally accepted medical practice for the proper completion of a particular therapeutic or diagnostic intervention. 

(h)  Therapy management contract.-  

(1) "Therapy management contract" means a voluntary, written arrangement that is disease-state specific signed by each party to the arrangement between: 

(i) One licensed pharmacist and the licensed pharmacist's designated alternate licensed pharmacists; 

(ii) One licensed physician and alternate designated licensed physicians involved directly in patient care; and 

(iii) One patient receiving care from a licensed physician and a licensed pharmacist pursuant to a physician-pharmacist agreement and protocol under this subtitle. 

(2) A therapy management contract shall be related to treatment using drug therapy, laboratory tests, or medical devices, under defined conditions or limitations for the purpose of improving patient outcomes. 
 

[2002, ch. 249; 2009, chs. 314, 315; 2010, chs. 44, 45.]