Sec. 10.09.55.01. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Advanced duties" means medical acts that require training and certification beyond the basic physician assistant education program.

(2) "Board" means the State Board of Physicians.

(3) "Delegation agreement" means a document that is executed by a licensed physician and a physician assistant containing the requirements of Health Occupation Article, §15-302, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 10.32.03.05.

(4) "Department" means the Maryland Department of Health, the single State agency designated to administer the Maryland Medical Assistance Program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §1396 et seq.

(5) "Dispense" means to dispense starter dosages or drug samples.

(6) "Medical Assistance Program" means the program of comprehensive medical and other health-related care for indigent and medically indigent persons.

(7) “Modification” means any change to the delegation agreement that governs the physician assistant’s performance of duties, including but not limited to practice location, scope of practice, change of supervising physician (primary or alternate), and prescriptive authority.

(8) "Physician" means an individual who meets the licensure requirements and conditions of participation of COMAR 10.09.02.

(9) "Physician assistant" means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision.

(10) "Practice as a physician assistant" means the performance of medical acts that are:

(a) Delegated by a supervising physician to a physician assistant;

(b) Within the supervising physician’s scope of practice; and

(c) Appropriate to the physician assistant’s education, training, and experience.

(11) "Program" means the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.

(12) "Provider" means a licensed physician assistant who, through appropriate agreement with the Department, has been identified as a Program provider by the issuance of a provider number.

(13) "Participant" means a person who is certified as eligible for, and is receiving, Medical Assistance benefits.

(14) "Supervision” means the responsibility of the physician to exercise on-site supervision or to be able to provide immediate available direction for the physician assistants performing delegated medical acts, and includes:

(a) Oversight of the physician assistant and acceptance of direct responsibility for the patient services and care rendered by the physician assistant;

(b) Continuous availability to the physician assistant either in person, by telephone, by electronic means, or by some other form of telecommunication; and

(c) Designation of one or more alternate supervising physicians.