Sec. 845.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the system.

(2) "Enrollee" means an individual who:

(A) resides in a rural area; and

(B) is entitled to receive health care services through a health care plan sponsored by, arranged for, or provided by the system.

(3) "Health care services" has the meaning assigned by Section 843.002.

(4) "Health care provider" means a physician, facility, practitioner, or other person or organization who, under a license or grant of authority issued by this state, provides care or supplies to individuals under a health benefit plan. The term does not include a hospital provider.

(5) "Hospital provider" means a county hospital, county hospital authority, hospital district, municipal hospital, or municipal hospital authority.

(6) "Local health care provider" means:

(A) a person licensed, registered, or certified as a health care practitioner in this state who resides or practices in a rural area in which the person provides health care services; or

(B) a general or specialty hospital that is not a hospital provider under this chapter.

(7) "Participating hospital provider" means a hospital provider that participates in the system.

(8) "Person" means an individual, professional association, professional corporation, partnership, limited liability corporation, limited liability partnership, or nonprofit corporation, including a nonprofit corporation certified under Section 162.001, Occupations Code.

(9) "Rural area" means:

(A) a county with a population of 50,000 or less;

(B) an area that is not delineated as an urbanized area by the United States Bureau of the Census; or

(C) any other area designated as rural by a rule adopted by the commissioner, subject to Section 845.003.

(10) "System" means the statewide rural health care system established under this chapter.

(11) "Territorial jurisdiction" means the geographical area in which a participating hospital provider is obligated by law to provide health care services.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1419, Sec. 1, eff. June 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 10A.213(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.