Arizona Laws 44-1799.93. Direct primary care provider; acceptance and discontinuance of patients
A. A direct primary care provider may not decline to accept a new direct primary care patient or discontinue care to an existing patient solely because of the patient’s health status. A direct primary care provider may not charge different fees for comparable services based on a patient’s health status or gender.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 44-1799.93
- Direct primary care agreement: means a contract between a primary care provider and an individual patient or the patient's legal representative in which the primary care provider agrees to provide primary care services to the individual patient for an agreed periodic fee and period of time. See Arizona Laws 44-1799.91
- Direct primary care patient: means a patient who enters into a direct primary care agreement with a primary care provider. See Arizona Laws 44-1799.91
- Direct primary care provider: means a primary care provider who enters into a direct primary care agreement with a patient or the patient's legal representative. See Arizona Laws 44-1799.91
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Primary care services: means routine, periodic health care procedures that are ordered and supervised by a primary care provider, including medical visits, laboratory testing, imaging, pathology testing, prescribing and administering medication, diagnosing, treating and managing acute and chronic conditions and other health care procedures provided to patients on a routine, periodic basis that may be performed or supervised by a primary care provider with training and experience in that procedure, or dental services that may be performed or supervised by a dentist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 11. See Arizona Laws 44-1799.91
B. A direct primary care provider may decline to accept a patient if the provider has reached maximum capacity or if the patient’s medical condition is such that the provider is unable to provide the appropriate level and type of primary care services the patient requires.
C. A direct primary care provider may discontinue care for a direct primary care patient in any of the following circumstances:
1. The patient fails to pay the periodic fee.
2. The patient has performed an act of fraud.
3. The patient repeatedly fails to adhere to the recommended treatment plan.
4. The patient is abusive and presents an emotional or physical danger to the staff or other patients of the direct primary care provider.
5. The direct primary care provider discontinues practicing as a direct primary care provider.
6. The direct primary care provider changes the services offered or the scope of practice provided to patients.
7. The direct primary care provider gives a thirty-day written notice to the patient terminating the direct primary care agreement.