reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 23-17-14.3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-14.3 - Review criteria.

§ 23-17-14.3. Review criteria.Except as otherwise provided in this section, a review by the health services council of an application for an initial license or a license in the case of a proposed change in the owner, operator, or lessee of any licensed health care facility may not be made subject to any criterion unless the criterion directly relates to the statutory purpose expressed in § 23-17-3. In conducting reviews of the applications, the health services council shall specifically consider:(1) The character, commitment, competence, and standing in the community of the proposed owners, operators, or directors of the health care facility;(2) In cases of initial licensure or of proposed change in owner, operator, or lessee, the extent to which the facility will provide or will continue to provide, without material effect on its viability at the time of initial licensure or of change of owner, operator, or lessee, safe and adequate treatment for individuals receiving the health care facility's services;(3) The extent to which the facility will provide or will continue to provide safe and adequate treatment for individuals receiving the health care facility's services; and(4) The extent to which the facility will provide or will continue to provide appropriate access with respect to traditionally underserved populations and in consideration of the proposed continuation or termination of health care services by the health care facility.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 134, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 433, § 3.
RI Gen L § 23-17-14.4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-14.4 - Procedures for review.

§ 23-17-14.4. Procedures for review.(a) Within ten (10) working days of receipt, in acceptable form, of an application for an initial license or a license in connection with a change in the owner, operator, or lessee of any existing health care facility, the licensing agency will notify and afford the public an opportunity to comment on the application.(b) The recommendations of the health services council and the decision of the licensing agency will be rendered within ninety (90) days of acceptance of the application for license.(c) The licensing agency shall promulgate in rules and regulations procedures and criteria for expedited review of licensure applications. The criteria for expedited review consideration shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) that the licensure application is solely for initial licensure; (2) that the legal entity seeking a license currently is the licensee for one or more Rhode Island licensed health care facilities whose records of compliance are deemed by the licensing agency to demonstrate the legal entity's ability and commitment to provide quality health care services; and (3) that the licensure application demonstrates complete and satisfactory compliance with review criteria in § 23-17-14.3. The licensing agency shall exercise its discretion in granting expedited review of license applications and a decision by the licensing agency not to process an application on an expedited review basis shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal.(d) The decision of the licensing agency shall be based upon the findings and recommendations of the health services council unless the licensing agency shall afford written justification for variance from these findings and recommendations.(e) All applications reviewed by the licensing agency and all written materials pertinent to licensing agency review, including minutes of all health services council meetings, shall be accessible to the public upon request.(f) Any person holding a valid certificate of need issued pursuant to chapter 15 of this title, shall be exempt from the requirements of § 23-17-14.3 or 23-17-14.4 of this chapter for initial facility licensure.(g) Any person holding a valid license for an outpatient rehabilitation center intended to be operational for less than twelve (12) months and so indicated upon its application shall surrender its license upon cessation of patient care operations for that operational season. Within a period not to exceed twelve (12) months from the surrender, the person may apply for a new license for the identical activities and premises authorized by the previous but surrendered license, and shall be exempt from the requirements of § 23-17-14.3 or 23-17-14.4 for initial facility licensure.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 134, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 433, § 3; P.L. 1999, ch. 336, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-15 - Information confidential.

§ 23-17-15. Information confidential.Information received by the licensing agency through filed reports, inspection, or as otherwise authorized under this chapter shall not be disclosed publicly in any manner that identifies individuals except in a proceeding involving the question of licensure.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 14; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-15; P.L. 1972, ch. 16, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-15.
RI Gen L § 23-17-15.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-15.1 - Reports public.

§ 23-17-15.1. Reports public.Copies of survey reports from the joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations and the American Osteopathic Association and any other reports from other accrediting organizations incorporated by reference in the reports, provided to the licensing agency by hospitals shall be public records as defined in chapter 2 of title 38.History of Section.P.L. 1989, ch. 217, § 7; P.L. 1994, ch. 52, § 2; P.L. 1994, ch. 126, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-17-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-16 - Annual report of activities.

§ 23-17-16. Annual report of activities.The licensing agency shall prepare and publish an annual report of its activities and operations under this chapter.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 15; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-16; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-16.
RI Gen L § 23-17-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-17 - Penalty for operation of unlicensed health care facility.

§ 23-17-17. Penalty for operation of unlicensed health care facility.Any person establishing, conducting, managing, or operating any health care facility without a license under this chapter shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisoned not more than one year or both, in the discretion of the court, for each offense.History of Section.P.L. 1932, ch. 1956, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 4; P.L. 1948, ch. 2112, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 16; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-17; P.L. 1972, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 269, § 5; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-17; P.L. 1989, ch. 307, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-18 - Obtaining treatment or services under false pretenses.

§ 23-17-18. Obtaining treatment or services under false pretenses.Any person who shall obtain medical or surgical or obstetrical treatment, under false representations of his or her financial condition, from any health care facility, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or both, in the discretion of the court, for each offense.History of Section.P.L. 1932, ch. 1956, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 3; P.L. 1948, ch. 2112, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 16; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-18; P.L. 1972, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 269, § 5; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-18.
RI Gen L § 23-17-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-19 - Injunction to restrain operation without license.

§ 23-17-19. Injunction to restrain operation without license.Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of any other remedy, the licensing agency may, in the manner provided by law upon the advice of the attorney general who shall represent the licensing agency in the proceedings, maintain an action in the name of the state for injunction or other process against any person to restrain or prevent the establishment, conduct, management, or operation of a health care facility without a license under this chapter.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 17; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-19; P.L. 1972, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 269, § 5; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-19.
RI Gen L § 23-17-19.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-19.2 - Posting of law.

§ 23-17-19.2. Posting of law.Every health care facility licensed pursuant to this title shall provide a copy of the provisions of § 23-17-19.1 to each inpatient or his or her representative at the time of admission to the health care facility and shall display a copy of the provisions of § 23-17-19.1 in a conspicuous place in each health care facility. The director of the department of health shall have power to enforce the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 168, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 269, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-19.2; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-19.2; P.L. 1991, ch. 316, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17-19.3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-19.3 - Patients' visitation rights.

§ 23-17-19.3. Patients' visitation rights.(a) All health care providers as licensed under the provisions of chapter 29 or 37 of title 5 and all health care facilities as defined in § 23-17-2 shall be required to note in their patients' permanent medical records the name of individual(s) not legally related by blood or marriage to the patient who the patient wishes to be considered as immediate family member(s), for the purpose of granting extended visitation rights to the individual(s), so the individual(s) may visit the patient while he or she is receiving inpatient health care services in a health care facility.(b) A patient choosing to designate individual(s) as immediate family members for the purpose of extending visitation rights may choose up to five (5) individuals and do so either verbally or in writing. This designation shall be made only by the patient and can be initiated and/or rescinded by the patient at any time, either prior to, during, or subsequent to an inpatient stay at the health care facility.(c) The full names of designated individual(s), along with their relationship to the patient, shall be recorded in the patient's permanent medical records, both at the inpatient health care facility and with the patient's primary care physician.(d) In the event the patient has not had the opportunity to have this designation recorded in his or her medical records, a signed statement in the patient's own handwriting attesting to the designation of the individual(s) as an immediate family member for the purpose of extending visitation rights during the provision of health care services in an inpatient health care facility, along with their relationship to the individual(s) shall meet all the requirements of this chapter. The patient's signature on a signed statement shall be witnessed by two (2) individuals, neither of whom can be the designated individual(s). In the event a signed statement is not available, those designated as agents on a durable power of attorney for health care form shall be allowed visitation privileges.(e) This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit legally recognized members of the patient's family from visiting the patient if they have not been so designated through the provisions of this chapter. No patient shall be required to designate individual(s) under the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 335, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-20 - Inapplicability.

§ 23-17-20. Inapplicability.The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to apply to clinical laboratories licensed in accordance with chapter 16.2 of this title, facilities licensed by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals or by the department of human services or Christian Science institutions operated, or listed and certified by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 19; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-20; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1972, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 269, § 5; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-20.
RI Gen L § 23-17-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-21 - Power of enforcement.

§ 23-17-21. Power of enforcement.The director of the department of health shall have power to enforce the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2250, § 110; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 5; P.L. 1948, ch. 2112, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 20; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-21; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-21.
RI Gen L § 23-17-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-22 - Severability.

§ 23-17-22. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the 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.G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 21; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-22; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-22.
RI Gen L § 23-17-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-23 - Hospital disciplinary powers.

§ 23-17-23. Hospital disciplinary powers.(a) The board of trustees of a hospital or other appropriate authority licensed pursuant to the laws of the state is authorized to suspend, deny, revoke, or curtail the staff privileges of any staff member for good cause which shall include the grounds specified in § 5-37-5.1 for unprofessional conduct. The procedures for these actions shall comply with the procedures, if any, that may from time to time be outlined by the joint commission for accreditation of hospitals.(b) There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against any hospital, hospital board of trustees, or any hospital medical staff committee, where instituted by hospital bylaws, for any action taken in good faith in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.(c) Any disciplinary action against a physician which involves loss of privileges shall promptly be reported to the board of medical licensure and discipline by the hospital.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 244, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-21; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-23; P.L. 1986, ch. 301, § 9.
RI Gen L § 23-17-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-24 - Internal risk management program.

§ 23-17-24. Internal risk management program.Every hospital licensed in this state and its insurance carrier shall cooperatively, as part of their administrative functions, establish an internal risk management program which shall include at least the following components:(1) An in-hospital grievance or complaint mechanism designed to process and resolve as promptly and effectively as possible grievances by patients or their representatives related to incidents, billing, inadequacies in treatment, and other factors known to influence malpractice claims and suits. The mechanism shall include appointment of a representative accountable to the hospital administration who shall anticipate and monitor on a day-to-day basis the grievances and administer the mechanism;(2) The continuous collection of data by each hospital with respect to its negative health care outcomes (whether or not they give rise to claims), patient grievances, claims, suits, professional liability premiums, settlements, awards, allocated and administrative costs of claims handling, costs of patient injury prevention and safety engineering activities, and other relevant statistics and information;(3) Medical care evaluation mechanisms, which shall include but not be limited to, tissue committees or medical audit committees, to review the appropriateness of procedures performed, to periodically assess the quality of medical care being provided at the institution, and to pass on the necessity of surgery;(4) Education programs for the hospital's staff personnel engaged in patient care activities dealing with patient safety, medical injury prevention, the legal aspects of patient care, problems of communication and rapport with patients, and other relevant factors known to influence malpractice claims and suits.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 244, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-22; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-24.
RI Gen L § 23-17-25 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-25 - Privileges and immunities for peer review activities.

§ 23-17-25. Privileges and immunities for peer review activities.(a) Neither the proceedings nor the records of peer review boards as defined in § 5-37-1 shall be subject to discovery or be admissible in evidence in any case save litigation arising out of the imposition of sanctions upon a physician. However, any imposition or notice of a restriction of privileges or a requirement of supervision imposed on a physician for unprofessional conduct as defined in § 5-37-5.1 shall be subject to discovery and be admissible in any proceeding against the physician for performing, or against any health care facility or health care provider which allows the physician to perform the medical procedures which are the subject of the restriction or supervision during the period of the restriction or supervision or subsequent to that period. Nothing contained in this section shall apply to records made in the regular course of business by a hospital or other provider of health care information. Documents or records otherwise available from original sources are not to be construed as immune from discovery or used in any civil proceedings merely because they were presented during the proceedings of the committee.(b) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action for damages shall arise against, any member of a duly appointed peer review board operated pursuant to written by-laws, for any act or proceeding undertaken or performed within the scope of the functions of any peer review board.(c) There shall be no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action for damage shall arise against, any person on account of the communication of information in the possession of the person to any peer review board or the board of medical licensure and discipline, when the communication is intended to aid in the evaluation of the qualifications, fitness, or character of a practitioner of the healing arts, and does not represent as true any matter not reasonably believed to be true.(d) Any peer review processes authorized by statute and carried out in good faith shall have the benefit of the state action exemption to the state antitrust law.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 244, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 23-16-23; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-25; P.L. 1986, ch. 350, § 12.
RI Gen L § 23-17-26 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-26 - Emergency health care.

§ 23-17-26. Emergency health care.(a) Every healthcare facility that has an emergency medical-care unit, including freestanding emergency-care facilities, shall provide to every person prompt, life-saving, medical-care treatment in an emergency, and a sexual-assault examination for victims of sexual assault, without discrimination on account of economic status or source of payment, and without delaying treatment for the purpose of a prior discussion of the source of payment unless the delay can be imposed without material risk to the health of the person.(b) Violations of this section shall be reported to the director of the state department of health who shall investigate the violations as the director deems appropriate.History of Section.P.L. 1980, ch. 87, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 120, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 417, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 418, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17-27 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-27 - Disclosure of nonparticipation in hospital service plan.

§ 23-17-27. Disclosure of nonparticipation in hospital service plan.(a) Any health care facility licensed under this chapter which is not a participant in a hospital service plan shall post a notice, in a conspicuous place where it can be read by its patients which shall read, in substance, as follows:To our patients:This facility does not participate in a hospital service plan. You should know that you will be responsible for the payment of the hospital fees which you incur here.(b) Any licensed health care facility which fails to post a disclosure notice shall not be entitled to charge any of its patients any amount, for hospital fees, in excess of that allowed had the facility participated in a hospital service plan.History of Section.P.L. 1980, ch. 160, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-17-28 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-28 - Health care cost containment.

§ 23-17-28. Health care cost containment.Each health care facility licensed under this chapter shall take any action consistent with the continued delivery of quality health care services that it deems appropriate to reduce, limit, or contain health care costs and improve the efficiency with which health care services are delivered to the citizens of this state. In furtherance of these goals, health care facilities licensed under this chapter may, to the extent not inconsistent with chapter 15 of this title, enter into agreements with other health care facilities, associations of health care facilities, suppliers, third-party payers, and/or agencies or branches of government providing, without limitation, for group planning, individual or group expenditure ceilings, allocation of services and/or specialties, and group purchasing and/or service sharing.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 358, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-17-29 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-17 - Licensing of Healthcare Facilities|Section 23-17-29 - Applicability.

§ 23-17-29. Applicability.Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this chapter, nothing contained in this chapter shall apply to any health maintenance organization licensed under the requirements and provisions of chapter 41 of title 27.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 370, § 5.