reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 23-17.21-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.21 - The Rhode Island Patient Safety Act of 2008|Section 23-17.21-5 - Powers and duties of the department.

§ 23-17.21-5. Powers and duties of the department.The powers necessary to carry out the duties of this chapter shall be vested in the director and are as follows:(a) The director shall certify a patient safety organization that has met the following criteria:(1) has a mission statement with one of its purposes to conduct activities to improve patient safety;(2) has qualified staff and professionals capable of reviewing and producing patient safety work product and recommendations for system changes;(3) is not a component of a health insurer or other entity that provides health insurance to individuals or group health plans; and(4) has a mission that does not create a conflict of interest with the health care providers who will submit patient safety work product to it.(b) The director shall establish a quality of care advisory committee that shall advise the department on PSO related issues. The advisory committee shall consist of fourteen (14) members who are appointed by the director and shall include no less than three (3) representatives of the hospital community; three (3) representatives of the nursing facility/long term care community; three (3) members of the freestanding ambulatory surgical center community; and five (5) others from the community as determined by the director. The term of office shall be for three (3) years. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. The committee shall advise the department on effective methods for sharing with health care providers the quality improvement information learned from the department's review of reports and corrective action plans, including quality improvement practices, patient safety issues, and preventative strategies.(c) The director may promulgate rules and regulations in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 175, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.21-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.21 - The Rhode Island Patient Safety Act of 2008|Section 23-17.21-6 - Requirements for reporting entities.

§ 23-17.21-6. Requirements for reporting entities.(a) Each reporting entity may enter into a written contract with a certified PSO in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.(b) Beginning January 1, 2009, a reporting entity may enter into a written contract with a patient safety organization to which it sends patient safety work product. Each contract shall require the reporting entity to maintain a document log itemizing the types of documents submitted to the PSO without indicating the content of such documents. Such document log shall be accessible to the department for the sole purpose of allowing the department to verify the type of information submitted to PSOs. The department shall not have access to patient safety work product. Such document log shall not be subject to a disclosure to, or use by, any person or entity, other than the PSO and the reporting entity with which it has contracted, and by the department for the sole purpose provided in this subsection.(c) Reporting entities shall not be exempt from the requirements of § 23-17-40 or § 5-37-9.(d) Patient safety work product (whether identifiable of nonidentifiable) and any document log submitted to the director under subsection (a) shall not be a public record for the purposes of chapter 38-2. Reporting entities shall not be considered a public body or agency for the purposes of chapter 38-2.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 175, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.21-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.21 - The Rhode Island Patient Safety Act of 2008|Section 23-17.21-7 - Requirements for patient safety organizations.

§ 23-17.21-7. Requirements for patient safety organizations.(a) PSO shall be certified by the department before entering into a contract with a reporting entity.(b) A PSO shall provide guidance to reporting entities on reporting matters, and shall maintain all reports and associated documents as confidential and privileged, including any reports or information with identifiable information.(c) A PSO shall, as appropriate, disseminate to health care providers and facilities, the department, the quality of care advisory committee, and the public, information or recommendations, including suggested policies, procedures or protocols, on best medical practices or potential system changes designed to improve patient safety and the overall quality of care. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the PSO shall not disclose identifiable patient safety work product to the department, the quality of care advisory committee, or the public.(d) A PSO shall have in place appropriate safeguards and security measures to ensure the technical integrity, physical safety, and confidentiality of any patient safety work product. As provided for in § 23-17.21-8, patient safety work product shall be confidential, and shall not be subject to any discovery, access or use by any person or entity other than the PSO and the reporting entity with which the PSO has contracted. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a PSO from choosing to disclose patient safety work product, or portions of patient safety work product solely to a reporting entity, in conformity with the PSO's mission and within its contractual obligations to the reporting entity submitted the information. No patient safety organization may release protected health information or patient identifying information without meeting the requirements of state laws and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 as amended from time to time.(e) The PSO shall adopt appropriate physical, technical and procedural safeguards to ensure the privacy and security of the patient safety work product. Such safeguards shall comply with the state and federal confidentiality laws including, without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations (45 C.F.R. Parts 160-164).History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 175, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.21-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.21 - The Rhode Island Patient Safety Act of 2008|Section 23-17.21-9 - Severability.

§ 23-17.21-9. Severability.If any provision of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, any invalidity shall not affect the provisions or application of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 175, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.22-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.22 - Healthy Rhode Island Reform Act of 2008|Section 23-17.22-1 - Short title.

§ 23-17.22-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthy Rhode Island Reform Act of 2008."History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 113, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 248, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.23-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.23 - Center for Health Professions|Section 23-17.23-1 - Legislative findings.

§ 23-17.23-1. Legislative findings.The general assembly finds and declares that:(1) There is a growing shortage of qualified nurses and healthcare professionals available to meet the needs of patients in healthcare facilities in Rhode Island as documented in the report "Help wanted: The growing crisis in Rhode Island's nursing workforce" prepared by Rhode Island shape foundation;(2) Healthcare facilities serving the citizens of the state are experiencing increasing difficulty in attracting nurses to administer to their patients;(3) Quality health care depends, in part, on the availability of nurses and healthcare professionals;(4) It is in the public interest and essential to the welfare and well-being of the inhabitants of the state that there be a sufficient number of nurses and healthcare workers in the state to serve the healthcare needs of patients; and(5) It is vital to the welfare of the state's citizenry that incentives be provided to attract and retain nurses and healthcare professionals to provide service in healthcare facilities throughout the state.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 81, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.23-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.23 - Center for Health Professions|Section 23-17.23-2 - Center for health professions established.

§ 23-17.23-2. Center for health professions established.There is hereby created a center for health professions under the auspices of the health partnership council of Rhode Island for the purpose of developing a sufficient, diverse, and well trained healthcare workforce to ensure the citizens of Rhode Island continue to have access to high quality healthcare.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 81, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.23-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.23 - Center for Health Professions|Section 23-17.23-3 - Responsibilities of the center for health professions.

§ 23-17.23-3. Responsibilities of the center for health professions.(a) The center for health professions will coordinate, facilitate and communicate statewide efforts to meet supply and demand needs for Rhode Island's healthcare workforce. The initial focus for the center shall include nursing which is experiencing the greatest workforce shortages.(b) The center shall further focus on:(1) Data collection to support strategic decisions and policy recommendations to measure and evaluate efforts over time and to certify on an ongoing basis:(i) Current healthcare professions supply and demand;(ii) Future supply and demand; and(iii) Gap analysis.(2) Education and training to ensure Rhode Island's current education and training systems have the resources to adequately support workforce demand and establish the centralized clinical placement registry to move students through the postsecondary education pipeline in an efficient manner.(3) Recruitment to increase the level of awareness and diversity of the healthcare workforce.(4) Research, design and implement creative retention initiatives which will assist the state of Rhode Island retain its healthcare professionals.(c) The center for health professions shall serve as a repository for healthcare workforce data and provide professional development opportunities and research best practices with the goal of streamlining both public and private resources and eliminating duplication of effort.(d) The center may accept funding that includes, but is not limited to, monetary contributions, contractual arrangements, in-kind services, federal and state workforce development appropriated funds, private and public foundation grants and fees for service products.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 81, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.24-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.24 - The Adult Supportive Care Residence Act|Section 23-17.24-2 - Licensure requirements.

§ 23-17.24-2. Licensure requirements.(a) No person shall operate an adult supportive care home without first obtaining a license from the Rhode Island department of health.(b) The director is authorized to promulgate regulations for the departmental licensure of adult supportive care homes including, but not limited to, minimum requirements for managers, staffing, staff training, assessments, service plan development, services to include food service and housekeeping/laundry, physical and environment standards for the home, resident rights, resident records, resident capacity for self-preservation, residency agreement/contracts and quality assurance.(c) The department may adopt regulations for special care requirements beyond the personal assistance required in § 23-17.23-1(5) for adult supportive care homes serving persons with dementia and/or behavioral health diagnoses.(d) Criminal background checks of persons seeking employment at adult supportive care homes shall be conducted in accordance with the standards and procedures contained in §§ 23-17.4-27, 23-17.4-28 and 23-17.4-30.(e) An adult supportive care home shall provide a qualified on-duty staff person over the age of eighteen (18) on the premises at all times that any supportive care residents are on the premises of the home.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 189, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 290, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.24-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.24 - The Adult Supportive Care Residence Act|Section 23-17.24-3 - Inspections - Corrections of violations - Immediate suspension of license - Penalties.

§ 23-17.24-3. Inspections — Corrections of violations — Immediate suspension of license — Penalties.(a) An adult supportive care home license shall remain valid unless voluntarily surrendered, suspended, or revoked in accordance with this chapter.(b) Adult supportive care homes applying for a license shall be inspected at the time of licensure and at least every eighteen (18) months thereafter. The department may make an unannounced inspection of an adult supportive care home at any time to assure that the home and licensee are in compliance with this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.(c) If the department finds that the home is not in compliance with this chapter or rules adopted under the authority of this chapter it shall require the home to correct any violations. The department has the authority to:(1) Order the home to admit no additional persons or to transfer residents to alternate settings, as corrective actions to secure regulatory compliance.(2) Immediately suspend a license if it finds that conditions in the home constitute an imminent danger to residents.(d) Every person or corporation who shall willfully and continually violate the provisions of this chapter will be subject to a fine or not less than three hundred dollars ($300) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) for each violation of this section.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 189, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 290, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.25-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.25 - Distressed Essential Community Hospitals|Section 23-17.25-1 - Legislative findings.

§ 23-17.25-1. Legislative findings.(1) Certain community hospitals act as the sole source of immediate access to hospital care for residents of the areas they serve and are essential to the maintenance of public health and safety;(2) The diversity of services provided by these essential community hospitals are necessary for the overall health and safety of the community, but result in financial distress for the hospitals that must serve large uninsured or governmentally insured populations;(3) The distressed essential community hospitals generally report a loss from operations and are in such a position that their liabilities exceed their assets;(4) Because of the important medical services provided by such hospitals, restoring and ensuring the continued financial viability of these distressed essential community hospitals is necessary for the public health and safety;(5) Landmark Medical Center, located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is a distressed essential community hospital, currently under the supervision of the Rhode Island superior court pursuant to a special mastership;(6) In fiscal year 2009, Landmark Medical Center provided care for nearly forty thousand (40,000) emergency room patients, seven thousand (7,000) inpatient cases and seventy-five thousand (75,000) outpatient visits, proving that the financial viability of Landmark Medical Center is vital to the public health and safety of the community it serves;(7) Ensuring the financial viability of Landmark Medical Center will preserve one thousand three hundred (1,300) jobs and benefit the state of Rhode Island;(8) Landmark Medical Center, or its successor-in-interest, if any, must be permitted a sufficient amount of time to use any funds allocated to it for the purposes of financial assistance to restore its financial viability and ensure its stability in the future; and(9) To preserve the viability of an essential community hospital, it may be necessary for purposes of certain Medicare classifications to designate such a hospital as a rural hospital.History of Section.P.L. 2010, ch. 154, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 155, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.25-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.25 - Distressed Essential Community Hospitals|Section 23-17.25-2 - Distressed essential community hospital sales and use tax exemption.

§ 23-17.25-2. Distressed essential community hospital sales and use tax exemption.(a) Notwithstanding any provision of title 44 of the Rhode Island general laws to the contrary, in recognition of Landmark Medical Center's status as a distressed essential community hospital neither Landmark Medical Center or any entity owned or controlled by Landmark Medical Center (hereinafter defined collectively as "LMC"), nor any success-in-interest to LMC (regardless of whether any such successor operates for profit or is subject to federal or state taxation), shall be required to pay or otherwise be financially responsible for any Rhode Island sales and use taxes that might otherwise be due in connection with any purchases, capital improvements, or any other activities conducted by LMC (or its successors-in-interest) pursuant to the health facility licenses maintained by LMC (or its successors-in-interest).(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) herein, this "distressed essential community hospital sales and use tax exemption" shall not apply to Northern Rhode Island Rehab Management Associates, L.P. d/b/a Rehab Hospital of Rhode Island ("RHRI") nor any successor-in-interest to Northern Rhode Island Rehab Management Associates, L.P. d/b/a Rehab Hospital of Rhode Island ("RHRI").(c) This sales and use tax exemption shall be effective as of the effective date of LMC's conversion to a for-profit entity, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 17.14 of this title (Hospital Conversions Act) and shall continue for a period of twelve (12) years.History of Section.P.L. 2010, ch. 154, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 155, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.25-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.25 - Distressed Essential Community Hospitals|Section 23-17.25-3 - Rural hospital designation.

§ 23-17.25-3. Rural hospital designation.The State of Rhode Island designates Landmark Medical Center as a rural hospital for purposes of satisfying special payment designations under the Medicare program, if Landmark Medical Center or its successor-in-interest, if any, should choose to seek such special designations.History of Section.P.L. 2010, ch. 154, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 155, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.26-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.26 - Comprehensive Discharge Planning|Section 23-17.26-1 - Findings.

§ 23-17.26-1. Findings.The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:(1) According to data provided by the department of health; in 2009, over 1 in five (5) adults discharged from acute care hospitals in Rhode Island were readmitted within thirty (30) days;(2) During that same period, the readmission rate for adults over the age of sixty-five (65) rose to almost thirty percent (30%);(3) The issue of hospital readmissions has emerged nationally as a critical focal point for improving quality, ensuring patient safety, and controlling excessive costs;(4) Locally, high hospital readmission rates are often due to: missing or incorrect information regarding patients; ill-timed information transfer; medication errors or poor compliance; lack of outpatient follow-up; or lack of follow-up by patients when their symptoms worsen;(5) Evidence-based interventions can improve communications systems and patient activation, thus addressing the root causes of hospital readmissions and reducing rates;(6) Encouraging best practices in patient discharge and transitions out of hospitals offers significant potential for improving patient care and containing healthcare costs in Rhode Island; and,(7) The State of Rhode Island, with the cooperation of the state's hospitals, has already made significant gains in fostering care coordination and improving quality of care.History of Section.P.L. 2011, ch. 114, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 119, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17.26-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.26 - Comprehensive Discharge Planning|Section 23-17.26-2 - Definitions.

§ 23-17.26-2. Definitions.As used in this chapter:(1) "Director" means the director of department of health.(2) "Department" means the department of health.(3) "Emergency room diversion facility" means a healthcare facility approved by the Rhode Island department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals to act as an immediate alternative to a hospital or emergency room, and which concentrates on treating non-urgent substance use disorders that can be appropriately treated in alternative settings.(4) "Healthcare clinic" means a healthcare facility licensed in accordance with chapter 17 of this title and that primarily delivers ambulatory care on an out-patient basis.(5) "Hospital" means a person or governmental entity licensed in accordance with chapter 17 of this title to establish, maintain, and operate a hospital.(6) "Urgent care center" means a healthcare facility licensed in accordance with chapter 17 of this title that primarily provides emergent healthcare services and urgent healthcare services as defined in § 23-17.12-2.History of Section.P.L. 2011, ch. 114, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 108, § 3; P.L. 2014, ch. 130, § 3.
RI Gen L § 23-17.26-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17.26 - Comprehensive Discharge Planning|Section 23-17.26-4 - Severability.

§ 23-17.26-4. Severability.If any provision of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, any invalidity shall not affect the provisions or application of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.History of Section.P.L. 2011, ch. 114, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 119, § 1.