Section 1200-19-01-.01 - DEFINITIONS(1) Physician is defined as a person licensed to practice medicine or surgery in Tennessee and a person licensed to practice osteopathy in Tennessee.(2) Physician to Population Ratio: The ratio derived by dividing the population of the area by the number of physicians providing medical service in the area. Only physicians spending 50% or more of their time giving direct patient care, in an office or facility-based practice, and who are under 65 years of age in the year that the ratio is determined, shall be counted; interns, residents and federal physicians are excluded.(3) Physician Shortage Area (PSA): An area in the State of Tennessee designated by the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, as an area where there is a shortage of primary care physicians.(4) Population: The number of persons residing in an area according to the most recent census of most current issue of "Current Population Reports" as determined and published by the U.S. Department of Commerce/Bureau of Census.(5) Primary Care: Basic level of health care generally rendered by general practitioners, family practitioners, internists, obstetricians, and pediatricians. This type of care emphasizes caring for the patient's general health needs as opposed to a more specialized or fragmented approach to medical care. This care is usually rendered in an outpatient setting.(6) Health Manpower Shortage Area (HMSA): An area which is designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to 42 CFR 5.3(d) as having an acute shortage of health providers.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-19-01-.01
Original rule filed June 29, 1983; effective July 29, 1983.Authority: T.C.A. § 49-50-106.