Sec. 251.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, Sec. 3.1639(66), eff. April 2, 2015.

(2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of state health services.

(3) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services.

(4) "Dialysis" means a process by which dissolved substances are removed from a patient's body by diffusion from one fluid compartment to another across a semipermeable membrane.

(5) "Dialysis technician" means an individual who is not a registered nurse or physician and who provides dialysis care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician.

(6) "End stage renal disease" means that stage of renal impairment that appears irreversible and permanent and that requires a regular course of dialysis or kidney transplantation to maintain life.

(7) "End stage renal disease facility" means a facility that provides dialysis treatment or dialysis training to individuals with end stage renal disease.

(7-a) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.

(8) "Medical review board" means a medical review board that:

(A) is appointed by a renal disease network organization which includes this state; and

(B) has a contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under Section 1881, Title XVIII, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1395rr).

(9) "Physician" means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 608, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.790, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0758, eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.1639(66), eff. April 2, 2015.