Ch. 348                                    1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(c) "Comprehensive standard health benefit plan" means the comprehensive
standard health benefit plan adopted in accordance with Article 48A, § 700 of the Code.

(d) (1) "Health care provider" means;

(i) A person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under
the Health Occupations Article to provide health care in the ordinary course of business
or practice of a profession or in an approved education or training program; or

(ii) A facility where health care is provided to patients or recipients,
including a facility as defined in § 10-101(e) of this article, a hospital as defined in §
19-301(f) of this article, a related institution as defined in § 19-301(1) of this article, a
health maintenance organization as defined in § 19-701(e) of this article, an outpatient
clinic, and a medical laboratory.

(2) "Health care provider" includes the agents and employees of a facility
who are licensed or otherwise authorized to provide health care, the officers and directors
of a facility, and the agents and employees of a health care provider who arc licensed or
otherwise authorized to provide health care.

(e) "Health care practitioner" means any person that provides health care
services and is licensed under the Health Occupations Article.

(f) "Health care service" moans any health or medical care procedure or service
rendered by a health care practitioner that:

(1) Provides testing, diagnosis, or treatment of human disease or
dysfunction; or

(2) Dispenses drugs, medical devices, medical appliances, or medical goods
for the treatment of human disease or dysfunction.

(g) (1) "Office facility" means the office of one or more health care
practitioners in which health-care services are provided to individuals.

(2) "Office facility" includes a facility that provides:

(i) Ambulatory surgery;

(ii) Radiological or diagnostic imagery; or

(iii) Laboratory services.

(3) "Office facility" docs not include any office, facility, or service operated
by a hospital and regulated under Subtitle 2 of this title.

(h) "Payor" means:                                       .

(1) A health insurer or nonprofit health service plan that holds a certificate
of authority and provides health insurance policies or contracts in the State in accordance
with this article or Article 48A of the Code;

(2) A health maintenance organization that holds a certificate of authority
in the State; or

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