The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Direct agreement" means a written agreement entered into between a direct practice and an individual direct patient, or the parent or legal guardian of the direct patient or a family of direct patients, whereby the direct practice charges a direct fee as consideration for being available to provide and providing primary care services to the individual direct patient. A direct agreement must (a) describe the specific health care services the direct practice will provide; and (b) be terminable at will upon written notice by the direct patient.

     (2) "Direct fee" means a fee charged by a direct practice as consideration for being available to provide and providing primary care services as specified in a direct agreement.

     (3) "Direct patient" means a person who is party to a direct agreement and is entitled to receive primary care services under the direct agreement from the direct practice.

     (4) "Direct patient-provider primary care practice" and "direct practice" means a provider, group, or entity that meets the following criteria in (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this subsection:

     (a)(i) A health care provider who furnishes primary care services through a direct agreement;

     (ii) A group of health care providers who furnish primary care services through a direct agreement; or

     (iii) An entity that sponsors, employs, or is otherwise affiliated with a group of health care providers who furnish only primary care services through a direct agreement, which entity is wholly owned by the group of health care providers or is a nonprofit corporation exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, and is not otherwise regulated as a health care service contractor, health maintenance organization, or disability insurer under Title 48 RCW. Such entity is not prohibited from sponsoring, employing, or being otherwise affiliated with other types of health care providers not engaged in a direct practice;

     (b) Enters into direct agreements with direct patients or parents or legal guardians of direct patients;

     (c) Does not accept payment for health care services provided to direct patients from any entity subject to regulation under Title 48 RCW or plans administered under chapter 41.05, 70.47, or 70.47A RCW; and

     (d) Does not provide, in consideration for the direct fee, services, procedures, or supplies such as prescription drugs, hospitalization costs, major surgery, dialysis, high level radiology (CT, MRI, PET scans or invasive radiology), rehabilitation services, procedures requiring general anesthesia, or similar advanced procedures, services, or supplies.

     (5) "Health care provider" or "provider" means a person regulated under Title 18 RCW or chapter 70.127 RCW to practice health or health-related services or otherwise practicing health care services in this state consistent with state law.

     (6) "Health carrier" or "carrier" has the same meaning as in RCW 48.43.005.

     (7) "Network" means the group of participating providers and facilities providing health care services to a particular health carrier's health plan or to plans administered under chapter 41.05, 70.47, or 70.47A RCW.

     (8) "Primary care" means routine health care services, including screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for the purpose of promotion of health, and detection and management of disease or injury.

[2009 c 552 § 1; 2007 c 267 § 3.]

NOTES:

     Reviser's note: The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k).