The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

"Claimant" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, agency, institution, or other legal entity seeking reimbursement or payment for services related to the treatment of an injured participant.

"Doctor" or "doctor" means a person licensed to independently practice one or more of the following professions: Medicine and surgery; osteopathic medicine and surgery; chiropractic; naturopathic physician; podiatry; dentistry; optometry.

"Municipality" includes any county, city, town or combination thereof, fire protection district, local law enforcement agency, or any emergency medical service district or other special district, authorized by law to protect life or property within its boundaries through a fire department, emergency workers, or reserve officers.

"Firefighter" or "firefighter" means any reserve officer (as defined in RCW 41.24.010), emergency worker (as defined in RCW 41.24.010), or firefighter who is a member of any fire department of any municipality but shall not include firefighters who are eligible for participation in the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system or the Washington public employees' retirement system, with respect to periods of service rendered in such capacity.

"Emergency worker" means any emergency medical service personnel, regulated by chapters 18.71 and 18.73 RCW, who is a member of an emergency medical service district but shall not include emergency medical service personnel who are eligible for participation in the Washington public employee's retirement system, with respect to periods of service rendered in such capacity.

"Reserve officer" means the same as defined by the Washington state criminal justice training commission under chapter 43.101 RCW, but shall not include enforcement officers who are eligible for participation in the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters retirement system or the Washington public employee's retirement system, with respect to periods of service rendered in such capacity.

"Local board" means: (a) For matters affecting firefighters, a firefighter board of trustees created under RCW 41.24.060; (b) for matters affecting an emergency worker, an emergency medical service district board of trustees created under RCW 41.24.330; or (c) for matters affecting reserve officers, a reserve officer board of trustees created under RCW 41.24.460.

"Pain management policy" means that certain policy #2012-001, approved by the state board and effective as of April 20, 2012.

"Participant" means: Any firefighter, reserve officer, or emergency worker who is or may become eligible for relief under RCW 41.24, or whose beneficiary may be eligible to receive any such benefit.

"Practitioner" means any person defined as a "doctor" under these rules, or licensed to practice one or more of the following professions: Audiology; physical therapy; occupational therapy; pharmacy; prosthetics; orthotics; psychology; nursing; advanced registered nurse practitioners; certified medical physician assistants or osteopathic physician assistants; and massage therapy.

"Provider" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, agency, institution, or other legal entity providing any kind of services related to the treatment of an industrially injured worker. It includes, but is not limited to, hospitals, medical doctors, dentists, chiropractors, vocational rehabilitation counselors, osteopathic physicians, pharmacists, podiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists, psychologists, naturopathic physicians, and durable medical equipment dealers.

"State board" means the state board for volunteer firefighters and reserve officers.