(1) The definitions in RCW 48.43.005 apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise, or the term is defined otherwise in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) The following definitions shall apply throughout this chapter:

(a) "Air ambulance service" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(b) "Allowed amount" means the maximum portion of a billed charge a health carrier will pay, including any applicable enrollee cost-sharing responsibility, for a covered health care service or item rendered by a participating provider or facility or by a nonparticipating provider or facility.

(c) "Balance bill" means a bill sent to an enrollee by a nonparticipating provider, facility, behavioral health emergency services provider or air ambulance service provider for health care services provided to the enrollee after the provider or facility's billed amount is not fully reimbursed by the carrier, exclusive of cost-sharing allowed under WAC 284-43B-020.

(d) "Behavioral health emergency services provider" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(e) "Cost-sharing" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(f) "De-identified" means, for the purposes of this rule, the removal of all information that can be used to identify the patient from whose medical record the health information was derived.

(g) "Emergency medical condition" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(h) "Emergency services" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(i) "Facility" or "health care facility" means:

(i) With respect to the provision of emergency services, a hospital or freestanding emergency department licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW (including an "emergency department of a hospital" or "independent freestanding emergency department" described in section 2799A-1(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-111(a) and 45 C.F.R. Sec. 149.30)) or a behavioral health emergency services provider; and

(ii) With respect to provision of nonemergency services, a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, a hospital outpatient department, a critical access hospital or an ambulatory surgical facility licensed under chapter 70.230 RCW (including a "health care facility" described in section 2799A-1(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-111(b) and 45 C.F.R. Sec. 149.30)).

(j) "Ground ambulance service" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(k) "Ground ambulance services organization" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(l) "Hospital outpatient department" means an entity or site that provides outpatient services and:

(i) Is a provider-based facility under 42 C.F.R. Sec. 413.65;

(ii) Charges a hospital facility fee in billing associated with the receipt of outpatient services from the entity or site; or

(iii) Bills the consumer or their health plan under a hospital's national provider identifier or federal tax identification number.

(m) "Local governmental entity" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(n) "In-network" or "participating" means a provider or facility that has contracted with a carrier or a carrier's contractor or subcontractor to provide health care services to enrollees and be reimbursed by the carrier at a contracted rate as payment in full for the health care services, including applicable cost-sharing obligations. A single case reimbursement agreement between a provider or facility and a carrier used for the purpose described in WAC 284-170-200 constitutes a contract exclusively for purposes of this definition under the Balance Billing Protection Act and is limited to the services and parties to the agreement.

(o) "Mutual aid" means aid rendered by a ground ambulance services organization outside of their primary geographic area to aid a resident of another geographic service area at the request of local emergency responders or dispatch.

(p) "Nonemergency health care services performed by nonparticipating providers at certain participating facilities" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(q) "Offer to pay," "carrier payment," or "payment notification" means a claim that has been adjudicated and paid by a carrier to a nonparticipating provider for emergency services or for nonemergency health care services performed by nonparticipating providers at certain participating facilities.

(r) "Out-of-network" or "nonparticipating" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 48.43.005.

(s) "Provider" means a person regulated under Title 18 RCW or chapter 70.127 RCW to practice health or health-related services or otherwise practicing health care services in this state consistent with state law, or an employee or agent of a person acting in the course and scope of his or her employment, that provides emergency services, or nonemergency health care services at certain participating facilities.