New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 7 - HEALTH
Chapter 29 - PRIMARY AND RURAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Part 3 - RURAL PRIMARY HEALTH CARE ACT
Section 7.29.3.7 - DEFINITIONS

A. "Act" means the Rural Primary Health Care Act, Sections 24-1A-1 to 24-1A-4 NMSA 1978.

B. "Department" means the department of health.

C. "Eligible programs" means nonprofit community based entities that provide or commit to provide primary health care services for residents of health care underserved areas and include rural health facilities and those serving primarily low income populations.

D. "Health care personnel" means health care professionals who contribute to ensuring adequate availability of primary health care services including but not limited to: licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, primary care physicians (family practice, general practice, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and internal medicine), dentists and dental hygienists.

E. "Health care underserved areas" (HCUA) means geographic areas where it has been determined by the department of health, through the use of indices and other standards set by the department, that sufficient primary health care is not being provided to the citizens of that area. These designations may recognize need for either general or special health care services. HCUA designations may give consideration to federally designated health professional shortage areas (HPSA) and medically underserved areas (MUA).

F. "Medically indigent" means individuals who are unable to afford all medical care that they require. This includes both those individuals below the federal poverty level not covered by medicaid, medicare or other third party health care insurance and those individuals between 100 percent and 200 percent of federal poverty levels who are not covered by any third party health insurance. Medically indigent individuals are usually expected to pay for some portion of the cost of their health care based upon the level of their income.

G. "Minimum level of primary health care services" means basic primary health care services provided to the general population by health care personnel.

H. "Nonprofit community based entities" means nonprofit organizations with an internal revenue service 501c(3) tax exempt status which have a governing board whose membership is broadly representative of the area served including consumer representatives. Nonprofit community based entities also include local governments and tribal governments. Nonprofit community based entities which are local governments, tribal governments and/or are multi-purpose or provide services in more than one HCUA, shall have local or regional primary health care advisory boards whose membership is generally representative of the area served.

I. "Patient collections" means receipts generated from patient encounters for primary health care services. Patient collections include revenues from medicaid, medicare, private insurance, Title XX, other third party sources or self pay.

J. "Primary health care advisory board" means a board, advisory to an organization's governing board, which has responsibility for consideration of and input into matters related to the provision of primary health care services in a local HCUA or regional combination of HCUA(s) being served. A majority of the advisory board shall be consumers of primary health care services.

K. "Primary health care services" are those provided at the first level of basic or general health care for an individual's health needs, including medical, dental and behavioral health diagnostic and treatment services and supportive services. Any dental or behavioral health services shall be provided in conjunction with primary medical services. Primary health care services are those provided as part of either general practice, family practice, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics or general internal medicine.

L. "Total revenues" means all receipts collected in support of primary health care services. Includes but not limited to: patient collections; Section 329, 330 and 340 Federal Funds, P.L. 93-638 or IHS support; Title V, X and WIC programs; other federal grants; other state grants/contracts; and local income, including city, county or other unit of government, direct grant or value of donated property or facilities. In addition, other revenues including but not limited to: gifts, cash donations or grants from private foundations, church organizations, or other sources, general operating revenues from clinic services and interest, dividends, and other income derived from certificates of deposit, saving accounts and other investments.