# KRS § 205.510: 205.510 Definitions for medical assistance law > Kentucky · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.510 ## Section - **Citation:** KRS § 205.510 - **Heading:** 205.510 Definitions for medical assistance law - **Jurisdiction:** Kentucky - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** KY Code / Title XVII / Chapter 205 / Section 205.510 ## Text 205.510 Definitions for medical assistance law. As used in this chapter as it pertains to medical assistance unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: (1) "Behavioral health professional" means a person authorized to provide mental health or substance use disorder services under the laws of the Commonwealth; (2) "Chiropractor" means a person authorized to practice chiropractic under the laws of the Commonwealth; (3) "Council" means the Advisory Council for Medical Assistance; (4) "Dentist" means a person authorized to practice dentistry under laws of the Commonwealth; (5) "Health professional" means a physician, physician assistant, nurse, doctor of chiropractic, behavioral health professional, optometrist, dentist, or allied health professional who is licensed in Kentucky; (6) "Medical care" as used in this chapter means essential medical, surgical, chiropractic, dental, optometric, podiatric, telehealth, and nursing services, in the home, office, clinic, or other suitable places, which are provided or prescribed by physicians, optometrists, podiatrists, or dentists licensed to render such services, including drugs and medical supplies, appliances, laboratory, diagnostic and therapeutic services, nursing-home and convalescent care, hospital care as defined in KRS 205.560(1)(a), and such other essential medical services and supplies as may be prescribed by such persons; but not including abortions, or induced miscarriages or premature births, unless in the opinion of a physician such procedures are necessary for the preservation of the life of the woman seeking such treatment or except in induced premature birth intended to produce a live viable child and such procedure is necessary for the health of the mother or her unborn child. However, this section does not authorize optometrists to perform any services other than those authorized by KRS Chapter 320; (7) "Nurse" means a person authorized to practice professional nursing under the laws of the Commonwealth; (8) "Nursing home" means a facility which provides routine medical care in which physicians regularly visit patients, which provide nursing services and procedures employed in caring for the sick which require training, judgment, technical knowledge, and skills beyond that which the untrained person possesses, and which maintains complete records on patient care, and which is licensed pursuant to the provisions of KRS 216B.015; (9) "Optometrist" means a person authorized to practice optometry under the laws of the Commonwealth; (10) "Other persons eligible for medical assistance" may include the categorically needy excluded from monetary payment status by state requirements and classifications of medically needy individuals as permitted by federal laws and regulations and as prescribed by administrative regulation of the secretary for health and family services or his designee; (11) "Pharmacist" means a person authorized to practice pharmacy under the laws of the Commonwealth; (12) "Physician" means a person authorized to practice medicine or osteopathy under the laws of the Commonwealth; (13) "Podiatrist" means a person authorized to practice podiatry under the laws of the Commonwealth; (14) "Primary-care center" means a facility which provides comprehensive medical care with emphasis on the prevention of disease and the maintenance of the patients' health as opposed to the treatment of disease; (15) "Public assistance recipient" means a person who has been certified by the Department for Community Based Services of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as being eligible for, and a recipient of, public assistance under the provisions of this chapter; (16) "Telehealth" means the same as in KRS 211.332; (17) "Telehealth consultation" means a medical or health consultation, for purposes of patient diagnosis or treatment, that meets the definition of telehealth in this section; mmunity Based Services of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as being eligible for, and a recipient of, public assistance under the provisions of this chapter; (16) "Telehealth" means the same as in KRS 211.332; (17) "Telehealth consultation" means a medical or health consultation, for purposes of patient diagnosis or treatment, that meets the definition of telehealth in this section; (18) "Third party" means an individual, institution, corporation, company, insurance company, personal representative, administrator, executor, trustee, or public or private agency, including, but not limited to, a reparation obligor and the assigned claims bureau under the Motor Vehicle Reparations Act, Subtitle 39 of KRS Chapter 304, who is or may be liable to pay all or part of the medical cost of injury, disease, or disability of an applicant or recipient of medical assistance provided under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. sec. 1396 et seq.; and (19) "Vendor payment" means a payment for medical care which is paid by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services directly to the authorized person or institution which rendered medical care to an eligible recipient. ## Nearby sections - [KRS § 205.010 205.010 Definitions for chapter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.010.md) - [KRS § 205.170 205.170 Powers of secretary](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.170.md) - [KRS § 205.172 205.172 Required reports to Legislative Research Commission](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.172.md) - [KRS § 205.173 205.173 Attorney General jurisdiction to enforce chapter and bring action -- Conditions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.173.md) - [KRS § 205.175 205.175 Confidential treatment of information and records -- Persons to whom furnished](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.175.md) - [KRS § 205.177 205.177 Information may be shared by state and local governmental agencies -- Conditions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.177.md) - [KRS § 205.178 205.178 Enrollment or benefit tracking agency to receive information on recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits -- Memorandum of understanding with departments providing information -- Independent vendors -- Multistate cooperative -- Review when information indicates change in circumstances affecting recipient's eligibility -- Waiver of federal requirements relating to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- Rules and regulations -- Report](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.178.md) - [KRS § 205.179 205.179 Annual review of sites where residents receive state supplemental benefits to determine registration status of boarding home](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.179.md) - [KRS § 205.180 205.180 Destruction of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.180.md) - [KRS § 205.191 205.191 Definitions for KRS 15.812, 205.178, 205.193, 205.200, 205.231, 205.232, and 205.525](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.191.md) - [KRS § 205.193 205.193 Cabinet to establish and maintain policies and practices -- Restrictions on recipient's use of cash assistance benefits -- Penalties -- Duties of cabinet](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.193.md) - [KRS § 205.200 205.200 Eligibility for public assistance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.200.md) - [KRS § 205.201 205.201 Duties of cabinet as to the aging and the minority elderly](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.201.md) - [KRS § 205.202 205.202 Acceptance and disposition of gifts and grants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.202.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C205_S205.510. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.