As used in this Article:
     “Appeal” means any of the procedures that deal with the review of adverse organization determinations on the health care services the enrollee believes he or she is entitled to receive, including delay in providing, arranging for, or approving the health care services, such that a delay would adversely affect the health of the enrollee or on any amounts the enrollee must pay for a service, as defined under 42 C.F.R. § 422.566(b). These procedures include reconsiderations by the managed care organization and, if necessary, an independent review entity as provided by the Health Carrier External Review Act, hearings before administrative law judges, review by the Medicare Appeals Council, and judicial review.
     “Demonstration Project” means the nursing home component of the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative Demonstration Project.
     “Department” means the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
     “Enrollee” means an individual who resides in a nursing home or is qualified to be admitted to a nursing home and is enrolled with a managed care organization participating in the Demonstration Project.
     “Health care services” means the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and includes medication, primary care, nursing or medical care, mental health treatment, psychiatric rehabilitation, memory loss services, physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation, enhanced care, medical supplies and equipment and the repair of such equipment, and assistance with activities of daily living.
     “Managed care organization” or “MCO” means an entity that meets the definition of health maintenance organization as defined in the Health Maintenance Organization Act, is licensed, regulated and in good standing with the Department of Insurance, and is authorized to participate in the nursing home component of the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative Demonstration Project by a 3-way contract with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
     “Medical professional” means a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
     “Medically necessary” means health care services that a medical professional, exercising prudent clinical judgment, would provide to a patient for the purpose of preventing, evaluating, diagnosing, or treating an illness, injury, or disease or its symptoms, and that are: (i) in accordance with the generally accepted standards of medical practice; (ii) clinically appropriate, in terms of type, frequency, extent, site, and duration, and considered effective for the patient’s illness, injury, or disease; and (iii) not primarily for the convenience of the patient, a medical professional, other health care provider, caregiver, family member, or other interested party.
     “Nursing home” means a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act.
     “Nurse practitioner” means an individual properly licensed as a nurse practitioner under the Nurse Practice Act.
     “Physician” means an individual licensed to practice in all branches of medicine under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.
     “Physician assistant” means an individual properly licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987.
     “Resident” means an enrollee who is receiving personal or medical care, including, but not limited to, mental health treatment, psychiatric rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, and assistance with activities of daily living, from a nursing home.
     “RAI Manual” means the most recent Resident Assessment Instrument Manual, published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
     “Resident’s representative” means a person designated in writing by a resident to be the resident’s representative or the resident’s guardian, as described by the Nursing Home Care Act.
     “SNFist” means a medical professional specializing in the care of individuals residing in nursing homes employed by or under contract with a MCO.
     “Transition period” means a period of time immediately following enrollment into the Demonstration Project or an enrollee’s movement from one managed care organization to another managed care organization or one care setting to another care setting.