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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 10.32.24.03" title_num="10" subtitle_num="32" chapter_num="24" 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>“Accredited educational program” means an educational program that is accredited by the national accrediting council or an equivalent accrediting body recognized by the national certifying board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Board” means the State Board of Physicians.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Certified genetic counselor” means an individual certified as a genetic counselor by a national certifying board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Committee” means the Genetic Counseling Advisory Committee established under Health Occupations Article, §14-5G-05, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Disciplinary panel” means a disciplinary panel of the Board established under Health Occupations Article, §14-401, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Genetic Assessment.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Genetic assessment” means the integration of genetic laboratory test results and other diagnostic studies with the medical histories of a patient and the patient’s family members to assess the risk for the patient or the patient’s family members of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A genetic or medical condition or disease; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The recurrence of a genetic or medical condition or disease.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Genetic assessment” includes taking medical and family histories for the purpose of genetic counseling.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Good standing” has the meaning stated in COMAR 10.32.22.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Immediately available” means a qualified supervisor is able to provide necessary direction in person, by telephone, or by other electronic means.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“License” means a license issued by the Board to practice genetic counseling.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Licensed genetic counselor” means an individual who is licensed by the Board, in accordance with Health Occupations Article, Title 14, Subtitle 5G, Annotated Code of Maryland, to practice genetic counseling as a genetic counselor in the State.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Licensee” means a licensed genetic counselor or a supervised genetic counselor.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“National accrediting council” means the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling, or its successor, that accredits education programs for genetic counselors.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“National certifying board” means the American Board of Genetic Counseling, its predecessor, or its successor, that certifies genetic counselors.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Practice Genetic Counseling.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Practice genetic counseling” means:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Obtaining and evaluating the medical histories of a patient and the patient’s family members for purposes of a genetic assessment;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Discussing the features, natural history, means of diagnosis, genetic and environmental factors, and management of risk for genetic or medical conditions or diseases.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Identifying, ordering, and coordinating genetic laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies, as appropriate, for purposes of a genetic assessment;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Using the medical histories obtained from the patient and the patient’s family members for purposes of a genetic assessment;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Explaining the clinical implications of genetic laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies and the results of the tests and studies and communicating the risk factors for genetic or medical conditions or diseases identified by a genetic assessment;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Evaluating the responses of a patient and the patient’s family members to the results of a genetic assessment and providing counseling and anticipatory guidance for a genetic or medical condition or disease;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Identifying and using community resources that provide medical, educational, financial, and psychosocial support and advocacy for a genetic or medical condition or disease; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Providing written documentation of medical, genetic, and counseling information for a patient, a patient’s family members, or appropriate health care professionals.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Practice genetic counseling” does not include diagnosing or treating an illness, a disease, or a condition.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>“Qualified supervisor” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A licensed genetic counselor who has practiced for a minimum of 3 years after passing the national certifying examination; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A physician who has been licensed in the State for a minimum of 5 years.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>“Supervised genetic counselor” means an individual who is licensed by the Board, in accordance with Health Occupations Article §14-5G-14, to practice genetic counseling under the supervision of a qualified supervisor.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>“Supervision” means the ongoing, direct, clinical review for the purposes of training or teaching by a qualified supervisor who monitors the performance of a supervised genetic counselor’s supervised interaction with a patient and provides consultations, chart reviews, guidance, and instructions with respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the supervised genetic counselor, as well as documented face-to-face meetings on at least a monthly basis.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>“Supervised interaction” means an interaction between a supervised genetic counselor and a patient where a qualified supervisor is immediately available.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>