1. (a) As used in this chapter, "hospice" means a person or health care provider who owns or operates a hospice program or facility, or both, that uses an interdisciplinary team directed by a licensed physician to provide a program of planned and continuous care for hospice program patients and their families.

2. (b) The term includes a program that:

   1. (1) provides a continuum of medical or nursing care and other hospice services to hospice program patients that complies with:

      1. (A) the:

         1. (i) conditions of participation for inpatient units under 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.; and
         2. (ii) accreditation standards as provided in the Medicare program under 42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2); and
      2. (B) standards adopted under this article; and
   2. (2) provides hospice services to hospice program patients and complies with standards adopted under this article.

As added by P.L.24-1997, SEC.54.