For purposes of this chapter:

“Basic health care services” means the following medical services: preventive care, emergency care, inpatient and outpatient hospital and physician care, diagnostic laboratory services, and diagnostic and therapeutic radiological services. It does not include mental health services, services for alcohol or drug abuse, dental or vision services, or long-term rehabilitation treatment, except as provided in chapter 431M.

“Capitated basis” means fixed per member per month payment or percentage of premium payment wherein the provider assumes the full risk for the cost of contracted services without regard to the type, value, or frequency of services provided. For purposes of this definition, capitated basis includes the cost associated with operating staff model facilities.

“Carrier” means a health maintenance organization, an insurer, a nonprofit hospital and medical service corporation, a mutual benefit society, or other entity responsible for the payment of benefits or provision of services under a group contract.

“Commissioner” means the insurance commissioner.

“Copayment” means an amount an enrollee must pay to receive a specific service which is not fully prepaid.

“Deductible” means the amount an enrollee is responsible to pay out-of-pocket before the health maintenance organization begins to pay the costs associated with treatment.

“Enrollee” means an individual who is covered by a health maintenance organization.

“Evidence of coverage” means a statement of the essential features and services of the health maintenance organization coverage that is given to the subscriber by the health maintenance organization or by the group contract holder.

“Extension of benefits” means the continuation of coverage under a particular benefit provided under a contract following termination with respect to an enrollee who is totally disabled on the date of termination.

“Grievance” means a written complaint submitted in accordance with the health maintenance organization’s formal grievance procedure by or on behalf of the enrollee regarding any aspect of the health maintenance organization relative to the enrollee.

“Group contract” means a contract for health care services which by its terms limits eligibility to members of a specified group. The group contract may include coverage for dependents.

“Group contract holder” means the person to which a group contract has been issued.

“Health maintenance organization” means any person that undertakes to provide or arrange for the delivery of basic health care services to enrollees on a prepaid basis, except for enrollee responsibility for copayments, deductibles, or both.

“Individual contract” means a contract for health care services issued to and covering an individual. The individual contract may include dependents of the subscriber.

“Insolvent” or “insolvency” means that the health maintenance organization has been declared insolvent and placed under an order of supervision, rehabilitation, or liquidation by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Managed hospital payment basis” means agreements wherein the financial risk is primarily related to the degree of utilization rather than to the cost of services.

“Net worth” means the excess of total admitted assets over total liabilities, but the liabilities shall not include fully subordinated debt.

“Participating provider” means a provider as defined in this section, who, under an express or implied contract with the health maintenance organization or with its contractor or subcontractor, has agreed to provide health care services to enrollees with an expectation of receiving payment, other than copayment or deductible, directly or indirectly from the health maintenance organization.

“Person” means any natural or artificial person including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts, or corporations.

“Provider” means any physician, hospital, or other person licensed or otherwise authorized to furnish health care services.

“Replacement coverage” means the benefits provided by a succeeding carrier.

“Subscriber” means an individual whose employment or other status, except family dependency, is the basis for eligibility for enrollment in the health maintenance organization, or in the case of an individual contract, the person in whose name the contract is issued.

“Uncovered expenditures” means the costs to the health maintenance organization for health care services that are the obligation of the health maintenance organization, for which an enrollee may also be liable in the event of the health maintenance organization’s insolvency, and for which no alternative arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the commissioner. Uncovered expenditures include but are not limited to out-of-area services, referral services, and hospital services. Uncovered expenditures do not include expenditures for services when a provider has agreed not to bill the enrollee even though the provider is not paid by the health maintenance organization, or for services that are guaranteed, insured, or assumed by a person or organization other than the health maintenance organization.