Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 360 - RULES OF GEORGIA COMPOSITE MEDICAL BOARD
Chapter 360-8 - PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINICS
Rule 360-8-.01 - Definitions

(1) 'Annual patient population' means persons seen by a clinic or practice in a 12 month calendar year but shall not include persons that are patients of a nursing home, home health agency or hospice licensed pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title 31.

(2) 'Board' means the Georgia Composite Medical Board created by Code Section 98 43-34-2.

(3) 'Chronic pain' means physical pain treated for a period of 90 days or more in a year but shall not include perioperative pain, which shall mean pain immediately preceding and immediately following a surgical procedure, when such perioperative pain is being treated in connection with a surgical procedure by a licensed health care professional acting within the scope of his or her license.

(4) 'License' means a valid and current certificate of registration issued by the board pursuant to this article which shall give the person to whom it is issued to engage in the practice prescribed thereon.

(5) 'Licensee' means any person holding a license under this article.

(6) 'Medical treatment' and 'medical services' means the treatment of chronic pain.

(7) 'Medical treatment or services' means for purposes of Chapter 360-8, medical treatment and services include, but are not limited to, the evaluation, diagnosis, and/or treatment of any medical complaint or condition, including prescribing and/or ordering medication, administering therapy, and/or any surgical procedure.

(8) 'Nonterminal condition' means a medical condition which is reversible, where there is a reasonable hope of recovery, and where the patient's medical prognosis is a life expectancy of two years or more.

(9) 'Pain management clinic' means a medical practice advertising 'treatment of pain' or utilizing 'pain' in the name of the clinic or a medical practice or clinic with greater than 50 percent of its annual patient population being treated for chronic pain for nonterminal conditions by the use of Schedule II or III controlled substances. This term shall not include any clinic or practice owned, in whole or in part, or operated by a hospital licensed pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title 31 or by a health system or any ambulatory surgical center, skilled nursing facility, hospice, or home health agency licensed pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title 31.

(10) 'Proof of Ownership' includes official documents such as incorporation papers filed with Secretary of State, a business license issued to the location identified in the application, lease agreements, bank accounts, information related to billing practices of the business, evidence related to form of payment for the owners of the clinic and physicians practicing at the clinic, and any other documentation that the Board may need to determine actual ownership.

(11) 'Person' means a natural person.

(12) 'Physician' means a person who possesses a current, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Georgia pursuant to Article 2 of this chapter.