The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of these rules. Where the context in which words are used in
these rules indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular shall
include the plural and vice versa. Throughout these rules gender pronouns are
used interchangeably, except where the context dictates otherwise. The drafters
have attempted to utilize each gender pronoun in equal numbers, in random
distribution. Words in each gender shall include individuals of the other
gender.
For the purpose of these rules, the following definitions
shall apply:
(a) "Account" means the
Medical Malpractice Insurance Assistance Account created by the Act and funded
by an appropriation from the Wyoming Legislature;
(b) "Act" means the Medical Malpractice
Insurance Assistance Act, 2004 Special Session, Enrolled Act No. 3 (to be
codified at
W.S.
35-1-901 through
35-1-903 );
(c) "Adverse action" is as defined in Chapter
1, Rules for Medicaid Administrative Fair Heanngs of the Wyoming Medicaid
rules, which definition is incorporated by this reference;
(d) "Applicant" means a physician or
contracting entity that submits an application for assistance;
(e) "Application" means the form, specified
by the Department, on which an applicant indicates an interest in receiving
assistance;
(f) "Application date"
means the post-marked date of an application for assistance, or the date it is
stamped into the Department if it is hand-delivered;
(g) "Approve" is the Department's
determination that a physician or a contracting entity is eligible for
assistance;
(h) "Assistance" means
a loan pursuant to this Act that permits a physician or a contracting entity to
purchase specified insurance coverage or participate in a risk retention group.
The total amount of assistance available shall be limited to that amount
appropriated by the Wyoming Legislature for this program;
(i) "Capital contribution" means a payment,
other than a premium or an annual fee, made to a risk retention group as a
condition of participation in the group;
(j) "Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP)"
means the Child Health Insurance Program created by 2003 Wyo. Sess. Laws 0064
(codified at W.S. W.S.
W.S.
35-25-101 et seg.), and administered by the
Department;
(k) "Claims-made
policy" means a malpractice insurance policy, which provides liability coverage
to a physician for events that occur during the policy period and for which a
claim is made during the policy period;
(l) "Contested case" means "Contested case"
as defined in Chapter 1, Rules for Medicaid Administrative Fair Hearings of the
Wyoming Medicaid rules, which definition is incorporated by this
reference;
(m) "Contract" means an
agreement between a physician or a contracting entity and the Department under
which the Department agrees to provide assistance under this Act in exchange
for an agreement by the physician or contracting entity to comply with the
statutory requirements of this Act, as well as requirements promulgated under
this Chapter;
(n) "Contracting
entity" means an entity which contracts with a Wyoming licensed health care
facility to provide physician services to the facility and which in fulfillment
of such a contract procures medical malpractice insurance for physicians
providing the contracted services;
(o) "Department" means the Wyoming Department
of Health, its agent, designee, or successor;
(p) "Director" means the director of the
Department, the director's agent, designee, or successor;
(q) "Documentation" means written evidence,
in the form specified by the Department, to support an assertion or
position;
(r) "Insurer" means any
person engaged as indemnitor, surety or contractor in the business of entering
into contracts of insurance or of annuity;
(s) "Malpractice insurance" means an
insurance policy that insures a physician, a contracting entity, or both,
against liability for medical malpractice;
(t) "Medicaid" means medical assistance and
services provided pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act or the
Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services Act of 1967, as amended. "Medicaid"
includes any successor or replacement program enacted by Congress or the
Wyoming Legislature. "Medicaid" in Wyoming is also known as "Equality
care";
(u) "Medicare" means the
health insurance program for the aged and disabled under Title XVIII of the
Social Security Act.
(v)
"Physician" means a person licensed under W.S. W.S.
W.S.
33-26-303.
(w) A "prime interest rate" means the prime
interest rate as established by the Federal Reserve System.
(x) "Promissory note" means a written promise
to pay a specified sum of money to the bearer of the note at a specified time
or on demand. Under this Act, the Promissory note will be the contract between
the physician or contracting entity and the Department;
(y) "Program" means the Malpractice Insurance
Assistance Program created by the Act and implemented by this
Chapter;
(z) "Provider" means
"Provider" as defined in Chapter 3, Provider Participation, of the Wyoming
Medicaid rules, which is incorporated by this reference;
(aa) "Public records" means "Public records"
as defined in W.S. 16-4-20 l(a)(v), which is incorporated by this
reference;
(bb) "Risk retention
group" is as defined in W.S. W.S.
W.S.
26-36-103(a)(i). However,
assistance under this Chapter is limited to participation in risk retention
groups in which, the majority of ownership is held by physicians who are
licensed and practicing in Wyoming;
(cc) "Security interest" means interest in
property obtained pursuant to a security agreement.