<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 10.01.16.02" title_num="10" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="16" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Divisible” means a medical record that is amenable to separation or division after the expiration of the retention time stated in Regulation .04 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Health Care Provider.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Health care provider” means an acupuncturist, audiologist, chiropractor, dietician, dentist, electrologist, massage therapist, mortician, nurse, nutritionist, occupational therapist, optometrist, physical therapist, physician, podiatrist, professional counselor, psychologist, social worker, speech-language pathologist, or a health care facility or entity that is a:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Freestanding, ambulatory care facility as defined in Health-General Article, §19-3B-01, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Freestanding medical facility as defined in Health-General Article, §19-3A-01, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Health maintenance organization as defined in Health-General Article, §19-701, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Hospital as defined in Health-General Article, §19-301, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Limited service hospital as defined in Health-General Article, §19-301, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Related institution as defined in Health-General Article, §19-301, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Residential treatment center as defined in Health-General Article, §19-301, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Health care facility as defined in Health-General Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Health care provider” includes an agent, officer, director, or employee of any entity listed in §B(2)(a) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Medical Record.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Medical record” means any oral, written, or other transmission in any form or medium of information that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Is entered in the record of a patient;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Identifies or can readily be associated with the identity of a patient; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Relates to the health care of the patient.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Medical record” includes any:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Documentation of disclosures of the medical record to any person who is not an employee, agent, or consultant of the health care provider;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>File or record maintained under Health Occupations Article, §12-403(b)(13), Annotated Code of Maryland, by a pharmacy of a prescription order for drugs, medicines, or devices that identifies or may be readily associated with the identity of a patient;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Documentation of an examination of a patient regardless of who requested the examination or is making payment for the examination;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>File or record received from another health care provider that relates to the health care of a patient received from that health care provider, and identifies or can readily be associated with the identity of the patient; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>To the extent not narrowed by §B(3)(a) and (b)(i)—(iv) of this regulation, “protected health information” as defined by 45 CFR §160.103, as amended.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Medical records series” means a set of medical records, as defined in §B(3) of this regulation, that is maintained on paper, microform, magnetic disk, magnetic tape, or other medium.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Patient” has the meaning stated in Health-General Article, §4-301(j), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Person in interest” has the meaning stated in Health-General Article, §4-301(k), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Records management service” means any agent that has been procured by a health care provider to transport, handle, manage, maintain, store, or destroy medical records.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Records retention schedule” means a records management plan that includes:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A list and description of the medical records series of an office or unit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The minimum retention period required to keep each medical record series;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The eventual disposition instructions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>If desired:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Maintenance procedures, such as access or copy control, for each medical records series both in office and in storage;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Scanning or microfilming instructions; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Disposal methods such as shredding or incineration; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A signature of approval by an individual with authority over all the medical records series listed.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Sanitizing” means overwriting, degaussing, shredding, or burning electronic or other media.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>