In this subpart unless otherwise indicated—

Covered professional services means (as specified in section 1848(k)(3) of the Act) services furnished by an EP for which payment is made under, or is based on, the Medicare physician fee schedule.

Eligible hospital means a hospital subject to the prospective payment system specified in §412.1(a)(1) of this chapter, excluding those hospitals specified in §412.23 of this chapter, excluding those hospital units specified in §412.25 of this chapter, and including Puerto Rico eligible hospitals unless otherwise indicated.

Eligible professional (EP) means a physician as defined in section 1861(r) of the Act, which includes, with certain limitations, all of the following types of professionals:

(1) A doctor of medicine or osteopathy.

(2) A doctor of dental surgery or medicine.

(3) A doctor of podiatric medicine.

(4) A doctor of optometry.

(5) A chiropractor.

Geographic health professional shortage area (HPSA) means a geographic area that is designated by the Secretary under section 332(a)(1)(A) of the PHS Act as of December 31 of the year prior to the payment year as having a shortage of health professionals.

Puerto Rico eligible hospital means a subsection (d) Puerto Rico hospital as defined in section 1886(d)(9)(A) of the Social Security Act.

Qualifying CAH means a CAH that is a meaningful EHR user for the EHR reporting period applicable to a payment year or payment adjustment year in which a cost reporting period begins.

Qualifying eligible professional (qualifying EP) means an EP who is a meaningful EHR user for the EHR reporting period applicable to a payment or payment adjustment year and who is not a hospital-based EP, as determined for that payment or payment adjustment year.

Qualifying hospital means an eligible hospital that is a meaningful EHR user for the EHR reporting period applicable to a payment or payment adjustment year.

[75 FR 44565, July 28, 2010, as amended at 77 FR 54157, Sept. 4, 2012; 83 FR 41710, Aug. 17, 2018]