2014 -- S 2985 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC005610/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

     Introduced By: Senator Erin P.Lynch

     Date Introduced: May 07, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

provided, however, that a hospital or organized ambulatory care facility shall be permitted to

provide, solely on an ambulatory basis, limited physician services, other limited professional

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

with services provided by and at community health centers, community mental health centers,

organized ambulatory care facilities or other licensed health care facilities, physicians' offices,

and facilities operated by the department of corrections without establishing such locations as

additional licensed premises of the hospital or organized ambulatory care facility; provided, that a

health care facility licensed as an organized ambulatory care facility in the state, may provide

services at other locations operated by that licensed organized ambulatory care facility, without

the requirement of a separate organized ambulatory care facility license for such other locations.

The department is further authorized to adopt rules and regulations to accomplish the purpose of

this section, including, but not limited to, defining "limited physician services, other limited

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

      (c) The reimbursement rates for the services rendered in the settings listed in subsection

(b) of this chapter shall be subject to negotiations between the hospitals, organized ambulatory

care facilities, and the payors, respectively, as defined in section §23-17.12-2.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

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     This act would allow currently licensed ambulatory care facilities to provide services at

other locations operated by the same facility without having to first obtain an additional license.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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