In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Health Information Exchange (HIE)” means an infrastructure that provides organizational and technical capabilities for the exchange of protected health information electronically among entities not under common ownership. “Health Services Cost Review Commission (Commission)” means the independent organization within the Maryland Department of Health that is responsible for reviewing and approving the rates for hospitals pursuant to Health-General Article, §19-201 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland. “Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC)” means the agency established by Health-General Article, Title 19, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Master Patient Index (MPI)” means an electronic database, created by the State-Designated HIE that maintains a unique index (or identifier) for every individual who has been, or who becomes, registered as a patient at a Maryland hospital. “State-Designated HIE” means an HIE designated by the MHCC.