The following words and terms, when used in these sections, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Act--The Texas Cancer Incidence Reporting Act, Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 82.
2. (2) Cancer--Includes a large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells; any condition of tumors having the properties of anaplasia, invasion, and metastasis; a cellular tumor the natural course of which is fatal, including malignant and benign tumors of the central nervous system; and malignant neoplasm, other than nonmelanoma skin cancers such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas.
3. (3) Cancer reporting handbook--The division's manual for cancer reporters that documents reporting procedures and format.
4. (4) Clinical laboratory--An accredited facility in which tests are performed identifying findings of anatomical changes; specimens are interpreted and pathological diagnoses are made.
5. (5) Department--Texas Department of Health.
6. (6) Division--Cancer Registry Division of the department.
7. (7) Health care facility--A general or special hospital as defined by the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 241; an ambulatory surgical center licensed under the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 243; an institution licensed under the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 242; or any other facility, including an outpatient clinic, that provides diagnostic or treatment services to patients with cancer.
8. (8) Health care practitioner--A physician as defined by Occupations Code, §151.002 or a person who practices dentistry as described by the Occupations Code, §251.003.
9. (9) Personal cancer data--Information that includes items that may identify an individual.
10. (10) Quality assurance--Operational procedures by which the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the information reported to the department can be determined and verified.
11. (11) Regional cancer registry--The organization authorized by the department to receive and collect cancer data for a designated area of the state and which maintains the system by which the collected information is reported to the department.
12. (12) Regional director--The physician who is the chief administrative officer of a public health region and is designated by the department under the Local Public Health Reorganization Act, Health and Safety Code, §121.007.
13. (13) Report--Information provided to the department that notifies the appropriate authority of the occupancy of a specific cancer in a person, including all information required to be provided to the department.
14. (14) Research--A systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
15. (15) Statistical data--Aggregate presentation of individual records on cancer cases excluding patient identifying information.
16. (16) Texas Cancer Registry--The cancer incidence reporting system administered by the Cancer Registry Division.

Source Note:The provisions of this §91.2 adopted to be effective November 7, 2002, 27 TexReg 10387.