2005 Rhode Island Code - § 23-17.14-4 — Definitions.

    For purposes of this chapter:

   (1) "Acquiree" means the person or persons that lose(s) any ownership or control in the new hospital, as the terms "new hospital" and "person(s)" are defined within this chapter;

   (2) "Acquiror" means the person or persons which gain(s) an ownership or control in the new hospital, as the terms "new hospital" and "person(s)" are defined within this chapter;

   (3) "Affected community" means any city or town within the state wherein an existing hospital is physically located and/or those cities and towns whose inhabitants are regularly served by the existing hospital;

   (4) "Charity care" is defined as health care services provided by a hospital without charge to a patient and for which the hospital does not and has not expected payment;

   (5) "Community benefit" means the provision of hospital services that meet the ongoing needs of the community for primary and emergency care in a manner that enables families and members of the community to maintain relationships with person who are hospitalized or are receiving hospital services, and shall also include, but not be limited to charity care and uncompensated care;

   (6) "Conversion" means any transfer by a person or persons of an ownership or membership interest or authority in a hospital, or the assets of a hospital, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, lease, gift, joint venture, sale, or other disposition which results in a change of ownership or control or possession of twenty percent (20%) or greater of the members or voting rights or interests of the hospital or of the assets of the hospital or pursuant to which, by virtue of the transfer, a person, together with all persons affiliated with the person, holds or owns, in the aggregate, twenty percent (20%) or greater of the membership or voting rights or interests of the hospital or of the assets of the hospital, or the removal, addition or substitution of a partner which results in a new partner gaining or acquiring a controlling interest in the hospital, or any change in membership which results in a new person gaining or acquiring a controlling vote in the hospital;

   (7) "Department" means the department of health;

   (8) "Director" means the director of the department of health;

   (9) "Existing hospital" means the hospital as it exists prior to the acquisition;

   (10) "For-profit corporation" means a legal entity formed for the purpose of transacting business which has as any one of its purposes pecuniary profit;

   (11) "Hospital" means a person or governmental entity licensed in accordance with chapter 17 of this title to establish, maintain and operate a hospital;

   (12) "New hospital" means the hospital as it exists after the completion of a conversion;

   (13) "Not-for-profit corporation means a legal entity formed for some charitable or benevolent purpose and not-for-profit which has been exempted from taxation pursuant to Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3), 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);

   (14) "Person" means any individual, trust or estate, partnership, corporation (including associations, joint stock companies and insurance companies), state or political subdivision or instrumentality of the state;

   (15) "Transacting parties" means any person or persons who seeks either to transfer or acquire ownership or a controlling interest or controlling authority in a hospital which would result in a change of ownership, control or authority of twenty percent (20%) or greater;

   (16) "Uncompensated care" means a combination of free care, which the hospital provides at no cost to the patient, bad debt, which the hospital bills for but does not collect, and less than full Medicaid reimbursement amounts.