(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.

(H) "HOSPITAL" HAS THE MEANING INDICATED STATED IN § 19-301(F) OF THIS
TITLE.

[(g)] (I) (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" does not include any office, facility, or service
operated by a hospital and regulated under Subtitle 2 of this title.

[(h)] (J) "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 the Insurance Article;

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

(3) A third party administrator as defined in § 15-111 of the Insurance

Article.
19-1508.

(a) (1) In order to more efficiently establish a medical care data base under
§ 19-1507 of this subtitle, the Commission shall establish standards for the operation
of one or more medical care electronic claims clearinghouses in Maryland and may
license those clearinghouses meeting those standards.

(2) In adopting regulations under this subsection, the Commission shall
consider appropriate national standards.

(3) The Commission may limit the number of licensed claims
clearinghouses to assure maximum efficiency and cost effectiveness.

(4) The Commission, by regulation, may charge a reasonable licensing
fee to operate a licensed claims clearinghouse.

(5) Health care practitioners in Maryland, as designated by the
Commission, shall submit, and payors of health care services in Maryland as
designated by the Commission shall receive claims for payment and any other
information reasonably related to the medical care data base electronically in a