Academic Medical Center
A group of related institutions including a teaching
hospital or hospitals, a medical school and its affiliated
faculty practice plan, and other health professional
schools
Board of Health
The State Board of Health (for Washington State) has
ten members, nine of whom are appointed by the Governor.
The tenth member is the Secretary of the State Department
of Health, or designee. The membership includes people
who are experienced in matters of health and sanitation,
an elected city official who is a member of a local
board of health, a local health officer, and two people
representing consumers of health care.
Local boards of health are governing bodies of at
least three persons who supervise all matters pertaining
to the preservation of the life and health of the
people within their jurisdiction. Each local board
of health enforces public health statutes and rules,
supervises the maintenance of all health and sanitary
measures, enacts local rules and regulations, and
provides for the control and prevention of any dangerous,
contagious, or infectious disease.
CHIP
Children's Health Insurance Program. Federal program
initiated in 1998, and jointly funded by states and
the federal government, which provides medical insurance
coverage for children not covered by state Medicaid-funded
programs. In Washington state, the plan covers children
in families with an ncome between 200 and 250% of
the federal poverty level.
ERISA
Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Federal law
that regulates various employee benefits, and also
exempts from state regulation those companies that
manage their own health care benefit plans.
Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)
(1) Consists of a group of hospitals, physicians and
other providers who have a contractual agreement with
an insurance company, employer or other third party
to provide health care services to covered patients.
Members are permitted to seek care outside of the
network, but in such cases the benefits may be significantly
reduced, or costs to the patient are higher. An EPO
offers coverage only to contracted providers.
(2) A type of preferred provider organization in
which the patient is required to use the provider
network, and no coverage is available for out-of-network
services. See Preferred Provider Organization.
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