For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

1. (1) “AIDS” means acquired immune deficiency syndrome as defined by the Centers for Disease Control of the United States Public Health Service.
2. (2) “ARC” means AIDS-related complex as defined by the Centers for Disease Control of the United States Public Health Service or, during any period when the Centers for Disease Control have not issued a definition, by the District of Columbia Commission of Public Health.
3. (2A) "Baseline assessment" means any testing, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to be completed before prescribing HIV prevention medication, including screening tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, kidney function assessments, hepatitis B virus serology, and lipid profiles.
4. (2B) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking.
5. (3) “District” means the District of Columbia.
6. (3A) “Gender identity or expression” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 2-1401.02(12A).
7. (3B) "Health benefit plan" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 31-3301.01(20).
8. (4) “Health maintenance organization” or “HMO” means any person that undertakes to provide or arrange for the delivery of basic health care services to enrollees on a prepaid basis, except for enrollees responsibility for co-payments and deductibles, and qualifies as a health maintenance organization under Chapter 34 of Title 31.
9. (5) “HIV” means human immunodeficiency virus.
10. (5A) "HIV prevention services" means medical services to prevent HIV and AIDS, including baseline assessments, initial and follow-up appointments and services, medication for the management of side effects associated with PrEP and PEP, and medication self-management or adherence counseling.
11. (5B) "HIV prevention treatment" means medical treatment used to prevent HIV, including PrEP, PEP, and HIV prevention services.
12. (6) “Mayor” means the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
13. (7) “Insurer” means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, fraternal benefit association, nonprofit health service plan, health maintenance organization, or other business entity that issues, amends, or renews individual or group health, disability, or life insurance policies or contracts, including health maintenance organization membership contracts, in the District. The term “insurer” shall include Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Incorporated.
14. [(8)] "PrEP" means pre-exposure prophylaxis antiretroviral medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") used to prevent HIV in a person without HIV.
15. [(9)] "PEP" means post-exposure prophylaxis antiretroviral medication approved by the FDA used to prevent HIV in a person without HIV who may have been recently exposed to HIV.

History

Aug. 7, 1986, D.C. Law 6-132, § 2, 33 DCR 3615

Mar. 16, 1989, D.C. Law 7-208, § 2(a), 36 DCR 471

June 18, 2003, D.C. Law 14-312, § 301, 50 DCR 306

June 25, 2008, D.C. Law 17-177, § 15(a), 55 DCR 3696

May 21, 2026, D.C. Law 26-115, § 2(a)

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 17-177 added par. (3A).

D.C. Law 14-312 rewrote par. (4) which had read as follows: “(4) ‘Health maintenance organization’ means a public or private organization that is a qualifying health maintenance organization under federal regulations, or has been determined to be a health maintenance organization pursuant to regulations adopted by the State Health Planning and Development Agency of the District of Columbia.”

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 35-221.