Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.603: Definitions.

As used in sections 191.600 to 191.615, the following terms shall mean:

(1) "Areas of defined need" , areas designated by the department pursuant to section 191.605, when services are needed to improve the patient-health professional ratio in the area, to contribute health care professional services to an area of economic impact, or to contribute health care professional services to an area suffering from the effects of a natural disaster;

(2) "Department" , the department of health and senior services.