health professional
(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), at least 90 percent of the services of a physician which are provided as basic health services shall be provided through— (i) members of the staff of the health maintenance organization, (ii) a medical group (or groups), (iii) an individual practice association (or associations), (iv) physicians or other health professionals who have contracted with the health maintenance organization for the provision of such services, or (v) any combination of such staff, medical group (or groups), individual practice association (or associations) or physicians or other health professionals under contract with the organization. (B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the provision of the services of a physician— (i) which the health maintenance organization determines, in conformity with regulations of the Secretary, are unusual or infrequently used, or (ii) which are provided a member of the organization in a manner other than that prescribed by subparagraph (A) because of an emergency which made it medically necessary that the service be provided to the member before it could be provided in a manner prescribed by subparagraph (A). (C) Contracts between a health maintenance organization and health professionals for the provision of basic and supplemental health services shall include such provisions as the Secretary may require, but only to the extent that such requirements are designed to insure the delivery of quality health care services and sound fiscal management. (D) For purposes of this paragraph the term “health professional” means physicians, dentists, nurses, podiatrists, optometrists, and such other individuals engaged in the delivery of health services as the Secretary may by regulation designate.