(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Authorized prescriber” means a licensed physician, licensed podiatrist, or certified advanced practice nurse with prescriptive authority under § 8–508 of this article.
(c) “Group model health maintenance organization” has the meaning stated in § 19–713.6 of the Health – General Article.
(d) “Health maintenance organization” has the meaning stated in § 19–701(g) of the Health – General Article.
(e) (1) “Institutional facility” means a facility other than a nursing home whose primary purpose is to provide a physical environment for patients to obtain inpatient or emergency care.
(2) “Institutional facility” does not include an urgent care facility that is not part of a facility.
(f) “Prescriber–pharmacist agreement” means an agreement between an authorized prescriber and a licensed pharmacist that is disease–state specific and specifies the protocols that may be used.
(g) “Protocol” means a course of treatment predetermined by the authorized prescriber and licensed pharmacist according to generally accepted medical practice for the proper completion of a particular therapeutic or diagnostic intervention.
(h) “Therapy management contract” means a voluntary, written arrangement that is:
(1) Disease–state specific;
(2) Signed by:
(i) One licensed pharmacist and the licensed pharmacist’s designated alternate licensed pharmacists;
(ii) One authorized prescriber and alternate designated authorized prescribers involved directly in patient care; and
(iii) One patient receiving care from an authorized prescriber and a licensed pharmacist pursuant to a prescriber–pharmacist agreement and protocol under this subtitle; and
(3) Related to treatment using drug therapy, laboratory tests, or medical devices, under defined conditions or limitations for the purpose of improving patient outcomes.