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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 10.09.55.01" title_num="10" subtitle_num="09" chapter_num="55" 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>“Advanced duties” means medical acts that require training and certification beyond the basic physician assistant education program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Board” means the State Board of Physicians.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Dispense” means to dispense starter dosages or drug samples.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Medical Assistance Program” means the program of comprehensive medical and other health-related care for indigent and medically indigent persons.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Physician” means an individual who meets the licensure requirements and conditions of participation of COMAR 10.09.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Physician assistant” means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Practice as a physician assistant” means the performance of medical acts that are:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Delegated by a supervising physician to a physician assistant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Within the supervising physician’s scope of practice; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Appropriate to the physician assistant’s education, training, and experience.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Program” means the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Participant” means a person who is certified as eligible for, and is receiving, Medical Assistance benefits.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>"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:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Oversight of the physician assistant and acceptance of direct responsibility for the patient services and care rendered by the physician assistant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Continuous availability to the physician assistant either in person, by telephone, by electronic means, or by some other form of telecommunication; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Designation of one or more alternate supervising physicians.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>