In this chapter:
(1) “Board” means the board of hospital managers of the district.
(2) “District” means the Nueces County Hospital District.
(3) “Institutional health care provider” means a hospital that is not owned and operated by a federal or state government and provides inpatient hospital services.
(4) “Paying provider” means an institutional health care provider required to make a mandatory payment under this chapter.
(5) “Program” means the health care provider participation program authorized by this chapter.