(a)  All licensed hospitals shall, as a condition of initial and/or continued licensure:

(1)  Meet the statewide community needs for the provision of charitable care;

(2)  Meet standards for assurance of the continuance of uncompensated case and community benefits;

(3)  Not discourage persons who cannot afford to pay from seeking essential medical services; and

(4)  Not encourage persons who cannot afford to pay to seek essential medical services from other providers.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-17.14-15

  • Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16

(b)  The director shall on an annual basis review each licensed hospital’s level of performance in providing charity care and uncompensated care.

(c)  The director shall consider the appropriate amount of charity and uncompensated care necessary to provide safe and adequate treatment, appropriate access and balanced health care delivery to the residents of the state.

(d)  Each licensed hospital shall provide on or before March 1st of each calendar year a report in a form acceptable to the director, a detailed description with supporting documentation, evidence of compliance of this section including, but not limited to (1) cost of charity care, (2) bad debt, (3) contracted Medicaid shortfalls, and (4) any additional information demonstrating compliance with this section.

(e)  If the department receives sufficient information indicating that a licensed hospital is not in compliance with this section, the director shall hold a hearing upon ten (10) days notice to the licensed hospital and shall issue, in writing, findings and appropriate penalties as set forth in § 23-17.14-30.

History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 372, § 1.