Medical services provided to patients for conditions arising, often unexpectedly, that need at least one physician experienced in emergency care on duty in the emergency care area. Specialty consultation must be available within approximately 30 minutes by members of the medical staff or by senior-level residents. Initial consultation through two-way voice communication is acceptable. The hospital’s scope of services must include in-house capabilities for managing physical and related emotional problems, with provision for patient transfer to another facility when required. Also see emergency services .

Medical services provided to patients for conditions arising, often unexpectedly, that need at least one physician available to the emergency care area from within the hospital who is available immediately through two-way voice communication. Specialty consultation must be available by request of the attending medical staff member or by transfer to a designated hospital where definitive care can be rendered. Also see emergency services .

Type of assistance needed by a consumer that may establish his or her eligibility for a program or health care service such as protective, intermediate, or skilled. See also level of service .

1. Intensity of medical services given to a patient when a physician provides one-on-one service (i.e., minimal, brief, limited, intermediate, comprehensive). 2. Other levels of service given by a health care organization (i.e., ambulatory surgery). Sometimes referred to as level of care (LOC) .

Phrase used when assigning a diagnostic code to the highest degree. It means to assign (1) three-digit codes (category codes) if there are no four-digit codes within the code category or (2) four-digit codes (subcategory codes) if there are no five-digit codes for that category or (3) five-digit codes (fifth-digit subclassification codes) for those categories where they are available.

Type of deferred annuity in which the annuitant pays equal premium amounts, monthly or annually, until the date that benefit payments begin.

Allows the insured to pay a specific amount of premium on each due date during the policy year that is based on an estimated annual premium. An adjustment is made at the end of the policy year for coverage changes that occurred during that year.

Life insurance for which the cost is evenly distributed over the period during which premiums are paid. Premiums are the same from year to year. Protection in the earlier years is more than the actual cost, building up a reserve, and in the later years, less than the actual cost.