The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Department" means the Washington state department of health.

(2) "Hospital" means any entity that is: (a) Defined as a hospital in RCW 70.41.020 and is required to obtain a license under RCW 70.41.090; or (b) a *psychiatric hospital required to obtain a license under chapter 71.12 RCW.

(3) "Acquisition" means an acquisition by a person of an interest in a nonprofit hospital, whether by purchase, merger, lease, gift, joint venture, or otherwise, that results in a change of ownership or control of twenty percent or more of the assets of the hospital, or that results in the acquiring person holding or controlling fifty percent or more of the assets of the hospital, but acquisition does not include an acquisition if the acquiring person: (a) Is a nonprofit corporation having a substantially similar charitable health care purpose as the nonprofit corporation from whom the hospital is being acquired, or is a government entity; (b) is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code or as a government entity; and (c) will maintain representation from the affected community on the local board of the hospital.

(4) "Nonprofit hospital" means a hospital owned by a nonprofit corporation organized under Title 24 RCW.

(5) "Person" means an individual, a trust or estate, a partnership, a corporation including associations, limited liability companies, joint stock companies, and insurance companies.

*Reviser's note: The term "psychiatric hospital" was changed to "behavioral health hospital" by 2024 c 121 s 19.