70.170.020 - Definitions.

Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Department" means department of health.

     (2) "Hospital" means any health care institution which is required to qualify for a license under *RCW 70.41.020(2); or as a psychiatric hospital under chapter 71.12 RCW.

     (3) "Secretary" means secretary of health.

     (4) "Charity care" means necessary hospital health care rendered to indigent persons, to the extent that the persons are unable to pay for the care or to pay deductibles or co-insurance amounts required by a third-party payer, as determined by the department.

     (5) "Sliding fee schedule" means a hospital-determined, publicly available schedule of discounts to charges for persons deemed eligible for charity care; such schedules shall be established after consideration of guidelines developed by the department.

     (6) "Special studies" means studies which have not been funded through the department's biennial or other legislative appropriations.

[1995 c 269 § 2203; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 § 502.]

Notes: *Reviser's note: RCW 70.41.020 was amended by 2002 c 116 § 2, changing subsection (2) to subsection (4).

Effective date -- 1995 c 269: See note following RCW 9.94A.850.

Part headings not law -- Severability -- 1995 c 269: See notes following RCW 13.40.005.