Definitions

For the purposes of sections 17b-262-512 through 17b-262-520 the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Acute" means having rapid onset, severe symptoms, and a short course. (2) "Client" means a person eligible for goods or services under the department's Medical Assistance Program. (3) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Social Services appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 17b-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes. (4) "Department" means the Department of Social Services or its agent. (5) "Electrocardiogram (EKG) Services" means diagnostic services derived from an electrocardiogram device which measures the electrical variations in heart muscles. (6) "Electroencephalogram (EEG) Services" means diagnostic services derived from an electroencephalogram instrument which records the electrical activity of the brain. (7) "Emergency" means a medical condition, including labor and delivery, manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the client's health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. (8) "Freestanding Radiology or Ultrasound Center" means those centers which offer radiology or ultrasound services but which are not part of a physician's office nor an inpatient or outpatient hospital service. (9) "HealthTrack Services" means the services described in subsection (r) of section 1905 of the Social Security Act. (10) "HealthTrack Special Services" means medically necessary and medically appropriate health care, diagnostic services, treatment, or other measures necessary to correct or ameliorate disabilities and physical and mental illnesses and conditions discovered as a result of a periodic comprehensive health screening or interperiodic encounter. Such services are provided in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection (r) of section 1905 of the Social Security Act, and are: (A) services not covered under the State Plan or contained in a fee schedule published by the department; or (B) services covered under the State Plan and contained in a fee schedule published by the department which exceed the limit on the amount of services established by the department that are contained in regulation. (11) "Interperiodic Encounter" means any medically necessary visit to a Connect-icut Medical Assistance provider, other than for the purpose of performing a periodic comprehensive health screening. Such encounters include, but are not limited to, physician's office visits, clinic visits, and other primary care visits. (12) "Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts" means a professional person providing health care pursuant to a license issued by the Department of Public Health (DPH). (13) "Medical Appropriateness or Medically Appropriate" means health care that is provided in a timely manner and meets professionally recognized standards of acceptable medical care; is delivered in the appropriate medical setting; and is the least costly of multiple, equally-effective alternative treatments or diagnostic modalities. (14) "Medical Assistance Program" means the medical assistance provided pursuant to Chapter 319v of the Connecticut General Statutes and authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act. The program is also referred to as Medicaid. (15) "Medical Necessity or Medically Necessary" means health care provided to correct or diminish the adverse effects of a medical condition or mental illness; to assist an individual in attaining or maintaining an optimal level of health; to diagnose a condition; or to prevent a medical condition from occurring. (16) "Prior Authorization" means approval for the provision of a service or the delivery of goods from the department before the provider actually provides the service or delivers the goods. (17) "Provider" means a radiology or ultrasound center which provides professional and technical services and which is independent of a physician's office or an inpatient or outpatient hospital department or clinic. (18) "Provider Agreement" means the signed, written, contractual, agreement between the department and the provider of services or goods. (19) "Radiology" means any diagnostic and treatment service administered through the use of radiant energy. (20) "State Plan" means the document which contains the services covered by the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program in compliance with Part 430, Subpart B, of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). (21) "Ultrasound Services" means diagnostic and therapeutic services administered by ultrasound equipment—equipment emitting inaudible sound frequencies in the approximately 20,000 to 10,000,000,000 cycles per second range.