Sec. 1. This chapter applies to a merger agreement between hospitals located in a county that meets the following criteria:
(1) Has a population that is less than one hundred forty thousand (140,000) and is not contiguous to a county with a population of more than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000).
(2) Has only two (2) hospitals that are both in the statewide comprehensive trauma care system under IC 16-19-3-28 and one (1) of the hospitals is a teaching hospital with a medical residency program.
(3) Is a predominately rural county.