South Carolina Code 44-7-510. Definitions
(1) "Affected persons" means a health care provider or purchaser:
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 44-7-510
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Certificate of public advantage: means the formal approval, including any conditions or modifications, by the department of a contract, business or financial arrangement, or other activities or practices between two or more health providers, health provider networks, or health care purchasers that might be construed to be violations of state or federal antitrust laws. See South Carolina Code 44-7-510
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Department: means the Department of Health and Environmental Control. See South Carolina Code 44-7-510
- Health care provider: means a health care professional licensed, certified, or registered under the laws of this State, an organization licensed pursuant to § 44-69-30 or § 44-71-30, or a facility licensed pursuant to § 44-7-260 or § 44-89-40 to provide health care services or any other person as defined in § 44-7-130(15) who provides health services in a freestanding or mobile facility. See South Carolina Code 44-7-510
- Health provider networks: means an organization of health care providers which offers health services to residents of this State. See South Carolina Code 44-7-510
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
(a) who provides or purchases the same or similar health care services in the geographic area served or to be served by the applicants for a certificate of public advantage: or
(b) who has notified the department of his interest in applications for certificates of public advantage and has a direct economic interest in the decision. Other than health insurers licensed in South Carolina, persons from other states who would otherwise be considered "affected persons" are not included unless that state provides for similar involvement of persons from South Carolina in a similar process in that state.
(2) "Certificate of public advantage" means the formal approval, including any conditions or modifications, by the department of a contract, business or financial arrangement, or other activities or practices between two or more health providers, health provider networks, or health care purchasers that might be construed to be violations of state or federal antitrust laws.
(3) "Cooperative agreement" means an agreement between two health providers, health provider networks, or purchasers or among more than two health care providers, health provider networks, or purchasers for the sharing, allocation, or referral of patients or the sharing or allocation of personnel, instructional programs, support services and facilities, medical, diagnostic or laboratory facilities, procedures, equipment, or other health care services traditionally offered by health care facilities or other health care providers or the acquisition or merger of assets among or by two or more health providers, health provider networks, or health care purchasers, provided the agreement does not involve price-fixing or predatory pricing or illegal tying arrangements.
(4) "Department" means the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
(5) "Health care provider" means a health care professional licensed, certified, or registered under the laws of this State, an organization licensed pursuant to § 44-69-30 or § 44-71-30, or a facility licensed pursuant to § 44-7-260 or § 44-89-40 to provide health care services or any other person as defined in § 44-7-130(15) who provides health services in a freestanding or mobile facility.
(6) "Health care purchaser" means a person or organization that purchases health care services on behalf of an identified group of persons, regardless of whether the cost of coverage of services is paid for by the purchaser or by the person receiving coverage or services including, but not limited to:
(a) health insurers as defined by § 38-71-920;
(b) employee health plans offered by self-insured employers;
(c) group health coverage offered by fraternal organizations, professional associations, or other organizations;
(d) state and federal health care programs; and
(e) state and local public employee health plans.
(7) "Health provider networks" means an organization of health care providers which offers health services to residents of this State. An organization may be a partnership, corporation including an association, a joint stock company, or any other legal entity recognized by the State.
(8) "Federal or state antitrust laws" means a federal or state law prohibiting monopolies or agreements in restraint of trade, including the Federal Sherman Act and Clayton Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and Chapters 3 and 5 of Title 39 of the 1976 Code.