Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 40 > Chapter 13 > Part 1 - General Provisions

• Abuse or neglect: means :
  (A) A situation in which a caretaker:

  (i) Inflicts physical pain, injury, or mental anguish. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Adult: means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older who because of mental or physical dysfunctioning or advanced age is unable to manage such person's own resources, carry out the activities of daily living, or protect such person from neglect, hazardous or abusive situations without assistance from others and who has no available, willing, and responsibly able person for assistance and who may be in need of protective services. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Advanced age: means sixty (60) years of age or older. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Ambulance provider: means a public or private ground-based ambulance service, other than an ambulance service based on federal property, that bills for transports and has a base of operations within this state. See Tennessee Code 71-5-1502
• Annual coverage assessment: means the annual assessment imposed on covered hospitals as set forth in this part. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Annual coverage assessment base: means a covered hospital's net patient revenue as shown in its medicare cost report for its fiscal year that ended during calendar year 2019, on file with CMS as of September 30, 2021, subject to the following qualifications:
  (A) If a covered hospital does not have a full twelve-month medicare cost report for 2019 on file with CMS but has a full twelve-month cost report for a subsequent year, then the first full twelve-month medicare cost report for a year following 2019 on file with CMS is the annual coverage assessment base. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assessment: means the medicaid ambulance provider assessment established by this part. See Tennessee Code 71-5-1502
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• Benefits: means the health care package of services available to TennCare enrollees. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Bureau: means the bureau of TennCare. See Tennessee Code 71-5-1502
• Bureau: means the bureau of TennCare. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Capacity to consent: means the mental ability to make a rational decision, which includes the ability to perceive, appreciate all relevant facts and to reach a rational judgment upon such facts. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Chambers: A judge's office.
• Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
• Child abuse prevention services: means those services designed to prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. See Tennessee Code 71-6-202
• CMS: means the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Commissioner: means the commissioner of finance and administration. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Commissioner: means the commissioner of human services. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• control: means indirect or direct ownership of ten percent (10%) or more of a covered hospital. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Controlling person: means a person who, by ownership, contract, or otherwise, has the authority to control the business operations of a covered hospital. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• 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.
• County mayor: means and includes "county executive" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Covered hospital: means a hospital licensed under title 33 or title 68, as of July 1, 2023, but does not include an excluded hospital. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the department of finance and administration. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Department: means the department of human services. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Department: means the department of finance and administration. See Tennessee Code 71-6-302
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Enrollee: means an individual eligible for and enrolled in the TennCare program or in any successor medicaid program in Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Excluded hospital: means :
  (A) A hospital that has been designated by CMS as a critical access hospital as of July 1, 2023. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• Exploitation: means the improper use by a caretaker of funds that have been paid by a governmental agency to an adult or to the caretaker for the use or care of the adult. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Family or household member: means those persons who customarily reside in the household and who are in need of temporary shelter because their lives or welfare are in danger. See Tennessee Code 71-6-202
• Family violence: means causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to a family or household member or placing a family or household member in fear of imminent physical harm by threat of force, regardless of age or mental functioning. See Tennessee Code 71-6-202
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Fraud: means an intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person including, but not limited to, a vendor, recipient, provider, or enrollee, with the knowledge that the deception or misrepresentation could result in some unauthorized benefit or payment to oneself or some other person. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Imminent danger: means conditions calculated to and capable of producing within a relatively short period of time a reasonable probability of resultant irreparable physical or mental harm or the cessation of life, or both, if such conditions are not removed or alleviated. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• Inspector general: means the person who directs the office of inspector general, who shall report directly to the commissioner of finance and administration. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Investigation: includes , but is not limited to, a personal interview with the individual reported to be abused, neglected, or exploited. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Juror: A person who is on the jury.
• Lands: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Medicaid transport: means qualifying ground ambulance services approved by CMS, and consistent with services identified in 42 C. See Tennessee Code 71-5-1502
• Medical assistance: means payment of the cost of care, services and supplies necessary to prevent, diagnose, correct or cure conditions in the person that cause acute suffering, endanger life, result in illness or infirmity, interfere with the person's capacity for normal activity, or threaten some significant disability and which are furnished an eligible person in accordance with the rules, regulations, and statutes governing TennCare. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Medicare cost report: means CMS-2552-10 or a subsequent form adopted by CMS for medicare cost reporting, the cost report for electronic filing of hospitals, for the period applicable as set forth in this section. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2002
• MFCU: means the medicaid fraud control unit. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Month: means a calendar month. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Office of emergency medical services: means the office of emergency medical services within the department of health. See Tennessee Code 71-5-1502
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• 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.
• Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Personal representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probate: Proving a will
• Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Protective services: means services undertaken by the department with or on behalf of an adult in need of protective services who is being abused, neglected, or exploited. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Provider: means an institution, facility, agency, person, corporation, partnership, unincorporated organization, nonprofit organization or any person or entity directly or indirectly providing benefits, goods or services to a TennCare enrollee. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• real property: include lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Recipient: means any person who has been determined eligible to receive benefits under part 1 of this chapter, and who has received such benefits. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Relative: means spouse. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Self-neglect: means an adult's inability, due to physical or cognitive impairment, including diminished capacity, to provide or obtain services, including medical services, necessary to maintain the adult's own health or welfare. See Tennessee Code 71-6-102
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• sex: means a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Sexual assault: includes victims of any of the sexual offenses set out in §. See Tennessee Code 71-6-302
• Sexual assault crisis intervention: includes , but is not limited to:
  (A) A 24-hour hotline for victims of sexual assault staffed by a trained person. See Tennessee Code 71-6-302
• Sexual assault program: means a program that provides sexual assault program services. See Tennessee Code 71-6-302
• Shelter: means a place where family violence victims and their children can seek temporary refuge twenty-four (24) hours a day and seven (7) days a week, including a program that develops and manages a system under which private homes or commercial lodgings are used as refuge for family violence victims and their children. See Tennessee Code 71-6-202
• Shelter services: means counseling for family violence victims, counseling for perpetrators, advocacy for family violence victims, referral of family violence victims to other community resources, community education regarding prevention of family violence and rehabilitation of perpetrators. See Tennessee Code 71-6-202
• signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Taxable transports: means the total ground ambulance transports reported during the base period by a provider to the office of emergency medical services that qualify as a permissible service to impose a healthcare-related provider assessment pursuant to 42 C. See Tennessee Code 71-5-1502
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• TennCare: means the program administered by the single state agency, as designated by the state and CMS, pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Vendor: means any person, institution, agency, other entity or business concern providing services or goods authorized under chapter 5, part 1 of this title, and includes, but is not limited to, any health maintenance organization, managed care organization, managed care contractor, administrative services organization, pharmacy benefit manager, prepaid limited health service organization, contractor or subcontractor. See Tennessee Code 71-5-2503
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105