reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 5-37.4-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.4 - Intractable Pain Treatment|Section 5-37.4-2 - Definitions.

§ 5-37.4-2. Definitions.For purposes of this chapter:(1) "Chronic intractable pain" means pain that is: excruciating; constant; incurable, and of such severity that it dominates virtually every conscious moment; and/or produces mental and physical debilitation. A diagnosis and written documentation of chronic intractable pain made by a physician licensed in the state of Rhode Island specializing in pain management, oncology, or similar specialty defined in regulations shall constitute proof that the patient suffers from chronic intractable pain.(2) "Director" means the director of the department of health of the state of Rhode Island.(3) "Intractable pain" means a pain state that persists beyond the usual course of an acute disease or healing of an injury or results from a chronic disease or condition that causes continuous or intermittent pain over a period of months or years. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term intractable pain includes chronic intractable pain.(4) "Practitioner" means healthcare professionals licensed to distribute, dispense, or administer controlled substances in the course of professional practice as defined in § 21-28-1.02(41).(5) "Therapeutic purpose" means the use of controlled substances for the treatment of pain in appropriate doses as indicated by the patient's medical record. Any other use is nontherapeutic.History of Section.P.L. 1997, ch. 83, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 46, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 93, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 104, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 37, § 1, effective June 2, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 38, § 1, effective June 2, 2021.
RI Gen L § 5-37.5-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.5 - Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment|Section 5-37.5-1 - Short title.

§ 5-37.5-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Act."History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 160, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.5-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.5 - Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment|Section 5-37.5-2 - Preamble.

§ 5-37.5-2. Preamble.WHEREAS, The Governor's Commission on Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases (the "Commission") was formed by executive order in 2002; andWHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes the negative impact of Lyme disease on Rhode Islanders; andWHEREAS, Rhode Island has the second highest number of reported Lyme disease cases as a percentage of population in the United States; andWHEREAS, The commission and the general assembly held hearings and reviewed the medical literature to gain an understanding of the concerns of citizens and the medical community about Lyme disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention; andWHEREAS, Citizens of Rhode Island diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease experience great difficulty in being diagnosed and treated thereby impairing their access to medical care; andWHEREAS, The lack of insurance coverage for diagnosis and long-term antibiotic therapies is a major barrier to access to medical care for persons with symptoms compatible with chronic Lyme disease; andWHEREAS, Physicians whose practices are devoted to treating chronic Lyme-disease patients, and who continue to provide treatment if they feel such treatment is medically necessary, have noted significant improvement in the condition of their patients; andWHEREAS, There is substantial evidence that considerable scientific controversy surrounds the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses; andWHEREAS, Laboratory tests for Lyme disease are not definitive and consensus guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of chronic Lyme disease have not been developed; andWHEREAS, Some physicians feel threatened by insurers and licensing boards for their choices among possible therapies for their patients; andWHEREAS, The commission and this general assembly recommend that legislation be adopted that promotes access to medical care for persons with chronic Lyme disease in Rhode Island; andNow, therefore, it is enacted by the general assembly as follows:History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 160, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.5-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.5 - Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment|Section 5-37.5-3 - Definitions.

§ 5-37.5-3. Definitions.For purposes of the chapter:(1) "Board" means the Rhode Island board of medical licensure and discipline.(2) "Long-term antibiotic therapy" means administration of oral, intramuscular, or intravenous antibiotics, singly or in combination, for periods of greater than four (4) weeks.(3) "Lyme disease" means the clinical diagnosis by a physician of the presence in a patient of signs and symptoms compatible with acute infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, or with late-stage or chronic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, or with complications related to such an infection. "Lyme disease" includes infection that meets the surveillance criteria set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but also includes other acute and chronic manifestations of such an infection as determined by the physician.(4) "Physician" means persons licensed pursuant to chapter 37 of this title by the board.(5) "Therapeutic purpose" means the use of antibiotics to control a patient's symptoms determined by the physician as reasonably related to Lyme disease and its sequelae.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 160, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.5-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.5 - Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment|Section 5-37.5-4 - Long-term antibiotic treatment.

§ 5-37.5-4. Long-term antibiotic treatment.(a) A physician may prescribe, administer, or dispense antibiotic therapy for therapeutic purpose to a person diagnosed with and having symptoms of Lyme disease if this diagnosis and treatment plan has been documented in the physician's medical record for that patient. No physician is subject to disciplinary action by the board solely for prescribing, administering, or dispensing long-term antibiotic therapy for a therapeutic purpose for a patient clinically diagnosed with Lyme disease, if this diagnosis and treatment plan has been documented in the physician's medical record for that patient.(b) Nothing in this section shall deny the right of the board to deny, revoke, or suspend the license of any physician or discipline any physician who prescribes, administers, or dispenses long-term antibiotic therapy for a nontherapeutic purpose, or who fails to monitor the ongoing care of a patient receiving long-term antibiotic therapy, or who fails to keep complete and accurate ongoing records of the diagnosis and treatment of a patient receiving long-term antibiotic therapy.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 160, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.5-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.5 - Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment|Section 5-37.5-5 - Mandatory coverage for certain Lyme disease treatments.

§ 5-37.5-5. Mandatory coverage for certain Lyme disease treatments.Every individual or group hospital or medical-expense insurance policy or individual or group hospital or medical-services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2004, shall provide for Lyme disease treatment as provided in chapters 18, 19, 20, and 41 of title 27.History of Section.P.L. 2003, ch. 113, § 2; P.L. 2003, ch. 114, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 34, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 35, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.5-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.5 - Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Treatment|Section 5-37.5-6 - Lyme disease testing information disclosure.

§ 5-37.5-6. Lyme disease testing information disclosure.(a) Every physician, or his/her in-office designee, who orders a laboratory test for the presence of Lyme disease shall provide to the patient or his/her legal representative the following information:"ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, AS OF 2011 LYME DISEASE IS THE SIXTH FASTEST GROWING DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES.YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER HAS ORDERED A LABORATORY TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF LYME DISEASE FOR YOU. CURRENT LABORATORY TESTING FOR LYME DISEASE CAN BE PROBLEMATIC AND STANDARD LABORATORY TESTS OFTEN RESULT IN FALSE NEGATIVE RESULTS, AND IF DONE TOO EARLY, YOU MAY NOT HAVE PRODUCED ENOUGH ANTIBODIES TO BE CONSIDERED POSITIVE BECAUSE YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE REQUIRES TIME TO DEVELOP ANTIBODIES. IF YOU ARE TESTED FOR LYME DISEASE AND THE RESULTS ARE NEGATIVE THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN YOU DO NOT HAVE LYME DISEASE. IF YOU CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND INQUIRE ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF RETESTING OR ADDITIONAL TREATMENT."(b) Physicians shall be immune from civil liability for the provision of the written information required by this section absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 495, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 508, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-1 - Short title.

§ 5-37.6-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Pain Assessment Act."History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-2 - Findings.

§ 5-37.6-2. Findings.The general assembly finds and declares that:(1) Pain affects quality of life, job performance, and security;(2) Nearly thirty percent (30%) of nursing home residents with daily pain were receiving no pain medication of any form;(3) Pain untreated or under-treated adversely impacts the quality of life for patients;(4) Up to ninety-five percent (95%) of terminally ill patients' pain can be relieved with adequate pain management; and(5) Too many Rhode Islanders are suffering and dying in needless pain.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-3 - Definitions.

§ 5-37.6-3. Definitions.As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) "Assessment of pain" means the act of assessing an unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder.(2) "Director" means the director of the department of health.(3) "Healthcare facilities" is defined in the same manner as in § 23-17-2.(4) "Healthcare provider" means any person licensed by this state to provide or lawfully providing healthcare services, including, but not limited to, a physician, dentist, optometrist, nurse, podiatrist, physical therapist, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant.(5) "Person" means any individual, trust or estate, partnership, limited-liability corporation, corporation (including associations, joint stock companies, and insurance companies), state, or political subdivision or instrumentality of a state.(6) "Regular basis" means a procedure done on a customary, usual, normal, orderly, even, or symmetrical schedule.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 410, § 4.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-4 - Pain assessment.

§ 5-37.6-4. Pain assessment.(a) Healthcare facilities and healthcare providers shall conduct an assessment of pain experienced by a patient on a regular basis.(b) The assessment of pain shall be noted in the patient's chart in a manner consistent with vital signs.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-5 - Regulations.

§ 5-37.6-5. Regulations.(a) Promulgation by department. The director of the department shall promulgate regulations relating to the assessment of pain requirements of this chapter.(b) Educational materials. The director shall make available educational and informational materials concerning the assessment of pain to healthcare facilities and healthcare providers.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-6 - Enforcement.

§ 5-37.6-6. Enforcement.The director of the department of health shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-7 - Penalty.

§ 5-37.6-7. Penalty.(a) Every person who shall willfully and continually violate the provisions of this chapter is subject to a fine up to one hundred dollars ($100) for a first violation and any other remedy provided for in the Rhode Island law.(b) Every person who shall continuously violate this chapter is subject to a fine up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each subsequent violation in addition to any other remedy provided for in the Rhode Island law.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.6-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.6 - Pain Assessment Act|Section 5-37.6-8 - Severability.

§ 5-37.6-8. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation made under this chapter or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter, rule, or regulation and the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by that invalidity. The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section of this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter and to this end the provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 331, § 1.
RI Gen L § 5-37.7-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.7 - Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008|Section 5-37.7-1 - Short title.

§ 5-37.7-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008."History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 171, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 466, § 2.
RI Gen L § 5-37.7-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.7 - Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008|Section 5-37.7-2 - Statement of purpose.

§ 5-37.7-2. Statement of purpose.The purpose of this chapter is to establish safeguards and confidentiality protections for the HIE in order to improve the quality, safety, and value of health care by promoting interoperability, enhancing electronic communication between providers, and supporting public health goals, while keeping confidential healthcare information secure.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 171, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 466, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 362, § 1, effective July 12, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 364, § 1, effective July 12, 2021.
RI Gen L § 5-37.7-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.7 - Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008|Section 5-37.7-4 - Participation in the health information exchange.

§ 5-37.7-4. Use of the health information exchange.(a) There shall be established a statewide HIE under state authority to allow for the electronic mobilization of confidential healthcare information in Rhode Island. Confidential healthcare information may only be accessed, released, or transferred from the HIE in accordance with this chapter.(b) The state has an interest in encouraging use of the HIE by all interested parties, including, but not limited to, healthcare providers, patients, health plans, entities submitting information to the HIE, entities obtaining information from the HIE, and the RHIO.(c) Except as provided in § 5-37.7-7(b), patients shall have the choice to opt out of having their confidential healthcare information disclosed from the HIE through the process defined in regulations in accordance with § 5-37.7-5.(d) Provider participants must continue to maintain their own medical record meeting the documentation and other standards imposed by otherwise applicable law.(e) The state agencies may submit to the HIE and/or receive from the HIE applicable confidential healthcare information for public health purposes.(f) Nothing contained herein shall have an impact on the content of, or use or disclosure of, confidential healthcare information of patients that is held in locations other than the HIE. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit, change, or otherwise affect entities' rights to exchange confidential healthcare information in accordance with other applicable laws.(g) The state hereby imposes on the HIE and the RHIO as a matter of state law, the obligation to maintain, and abide by the terms of, HIPAA-compliant business associate agreements, including, without limitation, the obligations to use appropriate safeguards to prevent use or disclosure of confidential healthcare information in accordance with HIPAA, other state and federal laws, and this chapter; not to use or disclose confidential healthcare information other than as permitted by HIPAA and this chapter; or to make any amendment to a confidential healthcare record that a provider participant so directs; and to respond to a request by a patient to make an amendment to the patient's healthcare record.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 171, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 466, § 2; P.L. 2016, ch. 67, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 71, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 362, § 1, effective July 12, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 364, § 1, effective July 12, 2021.
RI Gen L § 5-37.7-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.7 - Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008|Section 5-37.7-5 - Regulatory oversight.

§ 5-37.7-5. Regulatory oversight.(a) The department shall develop regulations regarding the confidentiality of patient information received, accessed, or held by the HIE and is authorized to promulgate other regulations as the department deems necessary or desirable to implement the provisions of this chapter, in accordance with the provisions set forth in chapter 17 of title 23 and chapter 35 of title 42.(b) The department has exclusive jurisdiction over the HIE, except with respect to the jurisdiction conferred upon the attorney general in § 5-37.7-13. This chapter shall not apply to any other private and/or public health information systems utilized within a healthcare provider or other organization that provides healthcare services.(c) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the establishment of an HIE advisory commission. The HIE advisory commission, in consultation with the RHIO, will be responsible for recommendations relating to the department regarding the use of, and appropriate confidentiality protections for, the confidential healthcare information of the HIE. The commission members shall be subject to the advice and consent of the senate. The commission shall report annually to the department, and the report shall be made public.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 171, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 466, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 362, § 1, effective July 12, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 364, § 1, effective July 12, 2021.
RI Gen L § 5-37.7-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.7 - Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008|Section 5-37.7-6 - Regional health information organization.

§ 5-37.7-6. Regional health information organization.The RHIO shall, subject to and consistent with department regulations and contractual obligations it has with the state, be responsible for implementing recognized national standards for interoperability and all administrative, operational, and financial functions to support the HIE, including, but not limited to, implementing and enforcing policies for receiving, retaining, safeguarding, and disclosing confidential healthcare information as required by this chapter. The RHIO is deemed to be the steward of the confidential healthcare information for which it has administrative responsibility.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 171, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 466, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 362, § 1, effective July 12, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 364, § 1, effective July 12, 2021.
RI Gen L § 5-37.7-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.7 - Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008|Section 5-37.7-8 - Security.

§ 5-37.7-8. Security.The HIE must be subject to at least the following security procedures:(1) Authenticate the recipient of any confidential healthcare information disclosed by the HIE pursuant to this chapter pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the department;(2) Limit authorized access to personally identifiable confidential healthcare information to persons having a need to know that information; additional employees or agents may have access to de-identified information;(3) Identify an individual or individuals who have responsibility for maintaining security procedures for the HIE;(4) Provide an electronic or written statement to each employee or agent as to the necessity of maintaining the security and confidentiality of confidential healthcare information, and of the penalties provided for in this chapter for the unauthorized access, release, transfer, use, or disclosure of this information; and(5) Take no disciplinary or punitive action against any employee or agent for bringing evidence of violation of this chapter to the attention of any person.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 171, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 466, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 310, § 33; P.L. 2021, ch. 362, § 1, effective July 12, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 364, § 1, effective July 12, 2021.
RI Gen L § 5-37.7-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 5 - Businesses and Professions|Chapter 5-37.7 - Rhode Island Health Information Exchange Act of 2008|Section 5-37.7-9 - Secondary disclosure.

§ 5-37.7-9. Secondary disclosure.Any confidential healthcare information obtained by a provider participant pursuant to this chapter may be further disclosed by such provider participant with or without authorization of the patient participant to the same extent that such information may be disclosed pursuant to existing state and federal law, without regard to the source of the information.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 171, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 466, § 2.