42 CFR § 456.151 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s456.151"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 456.151 - Definitions."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "456.151"
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: "456"
part_name: "UTILIZATION CONTROL"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 1302."
regulatory_source: "43 FR 45266, Sept. 29, 1978, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "456"
---


# 456.151 Definitions.

As used in this subpart:

*Medical care appraisal norms* or *norms* means numerical or statistical measures of usually observed performance.

*Medical care criteria* or *criteria* means predetermined elements against which aspects of the quality of a medical service may be compared. These criteria are developed by health professionals relying on their expertise and the professional health care literature.