As used in this chapter:

(1) "Administrator" means the administrator of the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

(2) "Discount medical plan organization" means an entity that, in exchange for fees, dues, charges, or other consideration, provides access for customers to providers of health care services and the right to receive health care services from those providers at a discount. There can be only one discount medical plan organization for each discount program. The discount medical plan organization is the organization that contracts with providers, provider networks, or other discount medical plan organizations to offer access to medical or ancillary services at a discount and determines the charge to discount medical plan customers.

(3) "Health care services" means any care, service, or treatment of an illness or dysfunction of, or injury to, the human body. Health care services includes, but is not limited to, physician care, inpatient care, hospital surgical services, emergency medical services, ambulance services, dental care services, vision care services, mental health care services, substance abuse services, chiropractic services, podiatric services, laboratory test services, the provision of medical equipment or supplies, and pharmaceutical supplies or prescriptions.

(4) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

(5) "Marketer" means a corporation, partnership, or other business entity including, but not limited to, a health maintenance organization, an insurance company, or third party payor, who sells, markets, promotes, advertises, or distributes a discount medical plan or other purchasing mechanism or device that purports to offer discounts or access to discounts from the health care providers described in item (3) in this State on behalf of a discount medical plan organization.

(6) "Representative" means an individual who is designated by a discount medical plan organization, as defined in this section, and acts or aids on behalf of the discount medical plan organization in the solicitation, negotiation, or renewal of a discount medical plan with respect to South Carolina citizens.

(7) "Customer" means an individual who pays for the right to receive the benefits of a discount medical plan.

(8) "Medicare prescription drug plan" means a plan that provides a Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit in accordance with the requirements of the federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA).

HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 377, Section 1, eff January 1, 2007.