As used in the Consumer Direction Act:

A. "attendant" means a person, including an allowable family member, who provides personal assistance services;

B. "consumer" means a person receiving personal assistance services through any personal assistance programs offered by the state of New Mexico;

C. "department" means any department or agency of the state offering personal assistance service to individuals;

D. "fiscal intermediary" means a person or entity selected by agreement between the consumer and the department under contract to the department to assist the consumer to perform certain employment functions, including payroll responsibilities for the attendant and filing necessary eligibility information with the department;

E. "personal assistance services" means a prescribed course of regular personal care, including hygiene, mobility and daily living assistance that permits a person to live in his home rather than an institution, including bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, shopping, transporting, cueing medication administration and communicating;

F. "plan" means a written and signed agreement between a consumer or surrogate and the department for the provision of personal assistance services; and

G. "surrogate" means a family member, legal guardian or other person approved by the consumer and identified in the personal assistance services plan to assist in direction of personal assistance services and choice of attendant.

History: Laws 2003, ch. 210, § 3.

Effective dates. — Laws 2003, ch. 210, § 7 made the act effective July 1, 2003.