42 CFR § 431.701 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s431.701"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 431.701 - Definitions."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "431.701"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS"
part_number: "431"
part_name: "STATE ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 1302."
regulatory_source: "43 FR 45188, Sept. 29, 1978, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "431"
---


# 431.701 Definitions.

Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply for purposes of this subpart:

*Agency* means the State agency responsible for licensing individual practitioners under the State's healing arts licensing act.

*Board* means an appointed State board established to carry out a State program for licensing administrators of nursing homes, in a State that does not have a healing arts licensing act or an agency as defined in this section.

*Licensed* means certified by a State agency or board as meeting all of the requirements for a licensed nursing home administrator specified in this subpart.

*Nursing home* means any institution, facility, or distinct part of a hospital that is licensed or formally recognized as meeting nursing home standards established under State law, or that is determined under § 431.704 to be included under the requirements of this subpart. The term does not include—

(a) A religious nonmedical institution as defined in § 440.170(b) of this chapter; or

(b) A distinct part of a hospital, if the hospital meets the definition in § 440.10 or § 440.140 of this subchapter, and the distinct part is not licensed separately or formally approved as a nursing home by the State even though it is designated or certified as a skilled nursing facility.

*Nursing home administrator* means any person who is in charge of the general administration of a nursing home whether or not the person—

(a) Has an ownership interest in the home; or

(b) Shares his functions and duties with one or more other persons.

[43 FR 45188, Sept. 29, 1978, as amended at 64 FR 67052, Nov. 30, 1999]