48-5501. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. " Freestanding urgent care center" :

(a) Means an outpatient treatment center that, regardless of its posted or advertised name, meets any of the following requirements:

(i) Is open twenty-four hours a day, excluding at its option weekends or certain holidays, but is not licensed as a hospital.

(ii) Claims to provide unscheduled medical services that are not otherwise routinely available in primary care physician offices.

(iii) By its posted or advertised name, gives the impression to the public that it provides medical care for urgent, immediate or emergency conditions.

(iv) Routinely provides ongoing unscheduled medical services for more than eight consecutive hours for an individual patient.

(b) Does not include the following:

(i) A medical facility that is licensed under a hospital's license and that uses the hospital's medical provider number.

(ii) A qualifying community health center pursuant to section 36-2907.06.

(iii) Any other health care institution that is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(iv) A physician's office that offers extended hours or same day appointments to existing and new patients and that does not meet the requirements of subdivision (a), item (i), (iii) or (iv). For the purposes of this item, " physician" means a person licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17.

2. " Home health agency" has the same meaning prescribed in section 36-151.

3. " Medical clinic" means a facility that provides for physical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of patients and that does not keep patients overnight as bed patients or treat patients under general anesthesia.

4. " Medically underserved" means populations that exhibit one or more of the following indicators:

(a) Limitations on the availability of primary care providers, prenatal care or other health care services.

(b) Residence in a health professional shortage area as defined in 42 Code of Federal Regulations part 5.

(c) A standard of living at or below a designated federal poverty level.

(d) Other factors indicative of being medically underserved, including levels of unemployment, incidence of infant mortality or low birth weights and the elderly.

5. " Nursing care institution" has the same meaning prescribed in section 36-401.

6. " Qualified electors" means persons who are qualified to vote pursuant to title 16.

7. " Special payments" means any payments made pursuant to section 36-2903.01, subsection O to or on behalf of a county operated hospital, including a hospital that is owned or leased by a special health care district.