Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Claim" means any attempt to cause a health care payer to make a health care payment.

(2) "Deceptive" means presenting a claim to a health care payer that contains a statement of fact or fails to reveal a material fact, leading the health care payer to believe that the represented or suggested state of affairs is other than it actually is. For the purposes of this chapter, the determination of what constitutes a material fact is a question of law to be resolved by the court.

(3) "False" means wholly or partially untrue or deceptive.

(4) "Health care payment" means a payment for health care services or the right under a contract, certificate, or policy of insurance to have a payment made by a health care payer for a specified health care service.

(5) "Health care payer" means any insurance company authorized to provide health insurance in this state, any health care service contractor authorized under chapter 48.44 RCW, any health maintenance organization authorized under chapter 48.46 RCW, any legal entity which is self-insured and providing health care benefits to its employees, and any insurer or other person responsible for paying for health care services.

(6) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity.

(7) "Provider" means any person lawfully licensed or authorized to render any health service.

Effective date—1995 c 285: See RCW 48.30A.900.