35-31-101. Definitions.

(a) As used in this act:

(i) "Contract" means an agreement executed in compliance with this act between:

(A) A medical facility and the department that authorizes the medical facility to deliver volunteer health care services to low income persons in consideration for being deemed a medical facility of the state under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act when performing duties under the contract; or

(B) A health care provider and the department that authorizes the health care provider to deliver volunteer health care services to low income persons in consideration for being deemed a public employee of the state under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act when performing duties under the contract.

(ii) "Department" means the department of health;

(iii) "Health care provider" means any person licensed, certified or otherwise authorized by the law of this state to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent impairments of the normal state of the mind and body, including but not limited to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, dentists, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers;

(iv) "Low income person" means a person with an income not greater than two hundred percent (200%) of the current poverty line as specified by the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) and:

(A) The person is not a covered individual under a health insurance or health care policy, contract or plan; or

(B) The person is a covered individual under a health insurance or health care policy, contract or plan, but was denied coverage by the policy, contract or plan.

(v) "Medical facility" means:

(A) A hospital, clinic, office, nursing home, or other facility where a health care provider provides health care to patients; and

(B) Provided that neither the medical facility nor individual health care provider receives compensation from or on behalf of the patient, "medical facility" includes all individuals, regardless of whether the individual receives wages, salary or other fees or compensation from the medical facility, who:

(I) Are employed by or under contract with the medical facility to provide health care to patients; or

(II) Have been granted privileges by the medical facility to provide health care to patients.

(vi) "Patient" includes clients of health care providers or medical facilities as defined by paragraph (iii) or (v) of this subsection;

(vii) "Volunteer health care" means services intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent impairments of the normal state of the mind and body when the provider of those services does not charge or receive compensation for the services from, or on behalf of, the patient;

(viii) "This act" means W.S. 35-31-101 through 35-31-103.