§ 131A-3.  Definitions.

As used or referred to in this Article, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Bonds" or "notes" means the revenue bonds or bond anticipation notes, respectively, authorized to be issued by the Commission under this Article;

(2) "Commission" means the North Carolina Medical Care Commission, created by Part 10 of Article 3 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes, or, should said Commission be abolished or otherwise divested of its functions under this Article, the public body succeeding it in its principal functions, or upon which are conferred by law the rights, powers and duties given by this Article to the Commission;

(3) "Cost" as applied to any health care facilities means the cost of construction or acquisition; the cost of acquisition of property, including rights in land and other property, both real and personal and improved and unimproved; the cost of demolishing, removing or relocating any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any land to which such buildings or structures may be moved or relocated; the cost of all machinery, fixed and movable equipment and furnishings; financing charges, interest prior to and during construction and, if deemed advisable by the Commission, for a period not exceeding two years after the estimated date of completion of construction, the cost of engineering and architectural surveys, plans and specifications; the cost of consulting and legal services and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing or acquiring such health care facilities; the cost of administrative and other expenses necessary or incident to the construction or acquisition of such health care facilities, and the financing of the construction or acquisition thereof, including reasonable provision for working capital and a reserve for debt service; the cost of reimbursing any public or nonprofit agency for any payments made for any cost described above or the refinancing of any cost described above, provided that no payment shall be reimbursed or any cost be refinanced if such payment was made or such cost was incurred earlier than two years prior to the effective date of this Article; provided further, that it is the intent that any costs described above shall be payable solely from the revenues of the health care facilities;

(4) "Health care facilities" means any one or more buildings, structures, additions, extensions, improvements or other facilities, whether or not located on the same site or sites, machinery, equipment, furnishings or other real or personal property suitable for health care or medical care; and includes, without limitation: general hospitals, chronic diseases, maternity, mental, tuberculosis and other specialized hospitals; facilities for intensive care and self-care; nursing homes, including skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities; facilities for continuing care of the elderly and infirm; clinics and outpatient facilities; clinical, pathological and other laboratories; health care research facilities; laundries; training facilities for nurses, interns, physicians and other staff members; food preparation and food service facilities; administration buildings, central service and other administrative facilities; communication, computer; and other electronic facilities, fire-fighting facilities, pharmaceutical facilities and recreational facilities; storage space, X-ray, laser, radiotherapy and other apparatus and equipment; dispensaries; utilities; vehicular parking lots and garages; office facilities for health care facilities staff members and physicians; and such other health care facilities customarily under the jurisdiction of or provided by hospitals, or any combination of the foregoing, with all necessary, convenient or related interests in land, machinery, apparatus, appliances, equipment, furnishings, appurtenances, site preparation, landscaping and physical amenities;

(5) "Non-profit agency" means any nonprofit corporation existing or hereafter created and empowered to acquire, by lease or otherwise, operate or maintain health care facilities;

(6) "Public agency" means any county, city, town, hospital district or other political subdivision of the State existing or hereafter created pursuant to the laws of the State authorized to acquire, by lease or otherwise, operate or maintain health care facilities;

(7) "State" means the State of North Carolina;

(8) "Federally guaranteed security" means any security, investment or evidence of indebtedness issued pursuant to any provision of federal law for the purpose of financing or refinancing the cost of any health care facilities which is insured or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part as to the repayment of principal or interest by the United States of America or any instrumentality thereof;

(9) "Federally insured mortgage note" means any loan secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on any health care facilities owned or leased by any public or nonprofit agency which is insured or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part as to the repayment of principal and interest by the United States of America or any instrumentality thereof, or any commitment by the United States of America or any instrumentality thereof to so insure or guarantee such a loan secured by a mortgage or a deed of trust.

(10) "Continuing care" means the furnishing, pursuant to a continuing care agreement, of shelter, food, and nursing care to an individual not related by consanguinity or affinity to the provider furnishing such care. Other personal services provided shall be designated in the continuing care agreement. Continuing care shall include only life care, care for life, or care for a term of years;

(11) "Life care" or "care for life" means a life lease, life membership, life estate, or similar agreement between an individual and a provider by which the individual pays a fee for the right to occupy a space in the continuing care facility and to receive continuing care for life; and

(12) "Care for a term of years" means an agreement between an individual and a provider whereby the individual pays a fee for the right to occupy space in a continuing care facility, and to receive continuing care, for at least one year, but for less than the life of the member. (1975, c. 766, s. 1; 1979, c. 54, s. 1; 1981, c. 64; c. 867, ss. 1, 2; 2005-238, s. 13; 2019-240, s. 27.1(a), (b).)