2012 -- S 2480 SUBSTITUTE A

=======

LC01756/SUB A

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

     Introduced By: Senators Perry, Lynch, Crowley, Pichardo, and Metts

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 23-17-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17 entitled "Licensing

1-2

of Health Care Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     23-17-4. License required for health care facility operation. – (a) No person acting

1-4

severally or jointly with any other person shall establish, conduct, or maintain a health care

1-5

facility in this state without a license under this chapter; provided, however, that any person, firm,

1-6

corporation or other entity which provides volunteer registered and licensed practical nurses to

1-7

the public shall not be required to have a license as a health care facility.

1-8

     (b) Each location at which a health care facility provides services shall be licensed;

1-9

provided, however, that a hospital shall be permitted to provide solely on an ambulatory basis,

1-10

limited physician services, other limited professional health care services, and/or other limited

1-11

professional mental health care services in conjunction with services provided by and at

1-12

community health centers, community mental health centers, organized ambulatory care facilities

1-13

or other licensed health care facilities, physicians’ offices, and facilities operated by the

1-14

department of corrections without establishing such locations as additional licensed premises of

1-15

the hospital. The department is further authorized to adopt rules and regulations to accomplish the

1-16

purpose of this section, including, but not limited to, defining “limited physician services, other

1-17

limited professional health care services, and/or other limited professional mental health care

1-18

services.”

1-19

     (c) The reimbursement rates for the services rendered in the settings set forth in

1-20

subsection (b) shall be subject to negotiations between the hospitals and the payors as defined in

2-1

section 23-17.12-2.

2-2

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01756/SUB A

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

***

3-1

     This act would require that health care facilities be licensed; provided, however, on an

3-2

ambulatory basis, limited services may be provided at locations as named without requiring that

3-3

such locations be established as additional licensed premises of the hospital and reimbursement

3-4

will be negotiated between the hospital and payors.

3-5

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01756/SUB A

=======