§2180.23. Definitions

            For the purposes of this Part, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

            (1) "Department" means the Louisiana Department of Health or any agency or office thereof designated by the secretary to administer the provisions of this Part.

            (2)(a) "Free-standing birth center" means a facility, place, center, agency, person, institution, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, group, or other legal entity which provides free-standing birth center services and at which a person is anticipated to give birth following a low-risk pregnancy.

            (b) For the purposes of this Part, a free-standing birth center does not include a hospital licensed pursuant to R.S. 40:2100 et seq., nor does it include the place of residence of the person giving birth.

            (3) "Free-standing birth center services" means peripartum care, including prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum, and services for people with low-risk pregnancies provided at free-standing birth centers. This includes any ancillary ambulatory service provided to a person at low risk for pregnancy complications, if such services are within the scope of practice of the individual providing the service.

            (4) "License" means a license issued by the Louisiana Department of Health to a free-standing birth center.

            (5) "Low-risk pregnancy" means a normal, uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy that has vertex presentation and is at low risk for development of complications during labor and birth, as determined from an evaluation and examination conducted by a physician or other practitioner or individual acting within the scope of his or her practice.

            (6) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.

            (7) "Standards" means policies, procedures, rules, guidelines, and standards of current practice contained in this Part in addition to those rules and standards promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Health for the licensing and operation of free-standing birth centers.

            Acts 2019, No. 332, §1, eff. June 11, 2019.