Sec. 10.21.30.02. Definitions

A. In this chapter, terms have the meanings stated in COMAR 10.21.17 and this regulation.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Critical access hospital" means a hospital that is certified to receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicare.

(2) "Designated rural geographic areas" means the rural geographical areas in Maryland identified by the Department that typically have mental health needs that have limited local mental health resource capacity or specialty psychiatric care.

(3) "Distant site" means the site at which the psychiatrist is located at the time the mental health service is provided via a telecommunications system.

(4) "Emergency department services" means initial hospital services provided to individuals with a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some of which may be life-threatening and requiring immediate attention.

(5) "Federally qualified health center" has the meaning stated in Health-General Article, §24-1301, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(6) "Individual practitioner" means a psychiatrist who is licensed to practice psychiatry in Maryland, and either:

(a) Is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; or

(b) Has completed the minimum educational and training requirements to be qualified to take the Board of Psychiatry and Neurology examination for certification in Neurology.

(7) "Not available" means that the PMHS administrative services organization certifies that the individual cannot access psychiatric services.

(8) "Originating site" means a site that has been approved by the Department to provide TMH services, at which an eligible individual is located at the time the service is delivered via a telecommunications system.

(9) "Originating site fee" means the amount the Department reimburses an approved TMH originating site.

(10) "Professional fee" means the amount the Department reimburses an approved TMH distant facility or licensed individual mental health professional:

(a) For a clinical care opinion, treatment, or both;

(b) To purchase, install, and maintain video conferencing equipment;

(c) To pay for line or per minute usage charges, or both; and

(d) For any additional programmatic, administrative, clinical, or contingency support at the distant site.

(11) Public Mental Health System (PMHS).

(a) "Public mental health system" means the system for the delivery of mental health treatment and supports to individuals who meet medical necessity criteria and financial eligibility as established by the Administration.

(b) "Public mental health system" includes the specialty mental health system described in COMAR 10.67.08.

(12) "Rural health clinic" means a facility that meets the definition of a rural health clinic as contained in 42 CFR §491.2(f), as amended.

(13) "Security" means the protection of information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

(14) "Telemental Health (TMH)" means the delivery of mental health care at a distance through the use of technology-assisted communication.

(15) "Telepresenter" means the individual at the originating site who introduces the patient to the distant site provider for examination, and to whom the distant site provider may delegate tasks and activities, and who is:

(a) A licensed independent practitioner; or

(b) Licensed or certified to perform health care services by licensing, training, or experience for the performance of the task or activity as long as the task or activity does not require the exercise of independent medical judgment for its performance.

(16) "Telepresenter fee" means the amount the Department reimburses a licensed, independent provider to present an individual to the TMH provider, due to medical necessity, to successfully complete the examination.

(17) "Virtual private network connection" means a method of connecting to a private network via a public network.