As used in sections 3961.01 to 3961.09 of the Revised Code:

(A)

(1) "Discount medical plan" means a business arrangement or contract in which a person, in exchange for fees, dues, charges, or other consideration, offers access to members to providers of medical services and the right to receive discounted medical services from those providers.

(2) "Discount medical plan" does not include any of the following:

(a) A plan that does not require a membership or charge a fee to use the plan's medical card;

(b) A plan that offers discounts for only pharmaceutical supplies or prescription drugs, or both, and no other medical services;

(c) A plan offered by a sickness and accident insurer that is regulated under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code, a health insuring corporation that is regulated under Title XVII of the Revised Code, or an affiliate of such insurer or corporation if the insurer, corporation, or affiliate discloses in writing in not less than twelve-point type on any applications, advertisements, marketing materials, and brochures describing the plan that the plan is not insurance.

(B)

(1) "Discount medical plan organization" or "organization" means a person who does business in this state; offers to members access to providers of medical services and the right to receive discounted medical services from those providers; contracts with providers, provider networks, or other discount medical plan organizations to offer discounted medical services to members; and determines the fee members pay to participate in the plan.

(2) "Discount medical plan organization" does not include a sickness and accident insurer that is regulated under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code or a health insuring corporation that is regulated under Title XVII of the Revised Code.

(C) "Facility" means an institution where medical services are performed, including, but not limited to, a hospital or other licensed inpatient center; ambulatory surgical or treatment center; skilled nursing center; residential treatment center; rehabilitation center; diagnostic, laboratory, and imaging center; and any other health care setting.

(D) "Health care professional" means a physician or other health care provider who is licensed, accredited, certified, or otherwise authorized to perform specified medical services within the scope of the person's license, accreditation, certification, or other authorization and performs medical services consistent with the laws of this state.

(E)

(1) "Marketer" means a person or entity who markets, promotes, sells, or distributes a discount medical plan, including, but not limited to, a private label entity that places its name on and markets or distributes a discount medical plan pursuant to a written agreement with a discount medical plan organization described under section 3961.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Marketer" does not mean a sickness and accident insurer that is regulated under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code, a health insuring corporation that is regulated under Title XVII of the Revised Code, or an affiliate of such insurer or corporation if the insurer, corporation, or affiliate discloses in writing in not less than twelve-point type on any applications, advertisements, marketing materials, and brochures describing the plan that the plan is not insurance.

(F) "Medical services" means any maintenance care of the human body; preventative care for the human body; or care, service, or treatment of an illness or dysfunction of, or injury to, the human body. "Medical services" includes, but is not limited to, physician care, inpatient care, hospital surgical services, emergency services, ambulance services, dental care services, vision care services, pharmaceutical supplies, prescription drugs, mental health services, substance abuse services, chiropractic services, podiatric services, laboratory services, and medical equipment and supplies.

(G) "Member" means any individual who pays fees, dues, charges, or other consideration to a discount medical plan organization for access to providers of medical services and the right to receive the benefits of a discount medical plan.

(H) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint venture, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, any similar entity, or any combination of these entities.

(I) "Provider" means any health care professional or facility that has contracted, directly or indirectly, with a discount medical plan organization to offer discounted medical services to members.

(J) "Provider agreement" means any agreement entered into between a discount medical plan organization and a provider or provider network to offer discounted medical services to members as described in section 3961.02 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Provider network" means a person that negotiates, directly or indirectly, with a discount medical plan organization on behalf of more than one provider to offer discounted medical services to members.

Effective Date: 03-23-2007 .