§ 7–751.01. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) “Commercial loans” means loans made by banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, schools, and either financial or credit institutions that are subject to examination and supervision in their capacity as lenders by an agency of the United States or of the State or District in which the lender has its principal place of business.

(2) “Dentist” means a graduate of a an accredited dental school who has completed post-graduate training in specialties of general or pediatric dentistry.

(3) “Director” means Director of the Department of Health or his or her designee.

(4) “Health Professional Shortage Area” and “HPSA” mean a geographic area, population group, or facility in the District of Columbia designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as lacking a sufficient number of primary care, dental, mental health, specialty, or sub-specialty professionals to provide care for residents of the area or community.

(5) “Medically Underserved Area” and “MUA” mean a geographic area in the District of Columbia designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as medically underserved.

(6) “Other health professional” means a person who has graduated from an accredited program for registered nurses, nurse midwives, certified midwives, certified professional midwives, certified registered nurse practitioners, dental hygienists, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, professional counselors, or physician assistants and has completed any required post-graduate training.

(7) "Physician" means a person who is licensed by the Board of Medicine to engage in the practice of medicine in the District and who is in good standing under such license.

(7A) "Program" means the District of Columbia Health Professional Recruitment Program established by § 7-751.02.

(8) “Reasonable educational expenses” means the costs of education, exclusive of tuition, which are considered to be required by the school’s degree program or an eligible program of study, such as fees for room, board, transportation and commuting costs, books, supplies, educational equipment and materials, or clinical travel, which were part of the estimated student budget of the school in which the participant was enrolled.

(9) "Service obligation site" means:

(A) A nonprofit entity located in a Health Professional Shortage Area or a Medically Underserved Area within the District that provides primary care, mental health, dental, or sub-specialty services to District residents regardless of their ability to pay;

(B) A Department of Health program;

(C) A Department of Behavioral Health program;

(D) A private practice setting that serves residents of a Medically Underserved Area, and accepts a minimum percentage or total number of patients, as determined by the Director, participating in Medicare, Medicaid, HealthCare Alliance, or similar public insurance programs at a threshold determined by the Department of Health; or

(E) Any other District program designated by the Director as a service obligation site.