For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated below:(a) Department. — The Department of Health of Puerto Rico.(b) Health facilities. — Hospitals, health centers, diagnosis and treatment centers, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, medical facilities for the mentally retarded, mental health centers, psychosocial rehabilitation centers, chronic disease hospitals, general hospitals, mental hospitals, and nonprofit health facilities, as defined in § 331a of this title. Furthermore, it shall mean outpatient health service facilities, which include the following outpatient services:(1) Outpatient surgery, any independent institution or part of a hospital or diagnosis and treatment center that provides medical surgery services to patients who do not require hospitalization.(2) Renal dialysis, including therapeutic diagnosis and rehabilitation services for patients with permanent kidney damage.(3) Family planning and abortions, including family planning services, sterilization for both genders, and procedures to terminate pregnancies by persons authorized to practice medicine in Puerto Rico.(4) Dental surgery services ions, including family planning services, sterilization for both genders, and procedures to terminate pregnancies by persons authorized to practice medicine in Puerto Rico.(4) Dental surgery services and/or those which:(A) Are considered to be invasive in nature, or(B) require the administration of anesthesia, except for local anesthesia.(5) Weight loss and/or bodily esthetics services, when invasive procedures are used in rendering these services and/or when they require the administration of anesthesia.(c) Person. — Any natural or juridical person, whether private or public.(d) Secretary. — The Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico or his/her authorized representative. History —June 21, 2007, No. 52, § 2.
Puerto Rico Legal Code