“Nonprofit speech and hearing center” means a nonprofit agency which provides an integrated program of speech pathology and audiology services in an outpatient setting designed to improve the functioning of persons with communicative disorders. A nonprofit speech and hearing center provides diagnostic and therapeutic services for such individuals, together with related counseling, pursuant to policies and procedures governing all aspects of the program formulated with the aid of one or more physicians and surgeons, who shall additionally serve on separate committees which determine patient care policy and perform utilization review functions. A multidisciplinary panel, which includes one or more physicians and surgeons, shall serve as a consulting advisory body to the center. All patients of the center shall be referred by a physician and surgeon, or by a dentist or psychologist as appropriate. A center shall prepare, maintain, and revise, as necessary, a treatment plan for all active patients, and shall provide periodic progress reports to the physician and surgeon or other professional referring the patient. A center shall maintain a complete record of all services rendered with respect to each patient.

(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 478.)