2018 -- H 7897

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LC005077

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - RIGHTS OF ELDERLY PATIENTS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Stephen R. Ucci

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-17.5 of the General Laws entitled "Rights of Nursing Home

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Patients" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     23-17.5-32. Prohibition from accepting patient gifts.

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     (a) It shall be prohibited for any health care provider as defined in § 23-17.6-2 to accept

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any gift with a value of more than ten dollars ($10.00) from a nursing home patient.

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     (b) A health care provider who violates this section shall be liable for a civil penalty per

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violation of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) which

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shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general in any court of

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competent jurisdiction.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 23-17.16 of the General Laws entitled "Home Care Patient Rights"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     23-17.16-6. Prohibition from accepting patient gifts.

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     (a) It shall be prohibited for any health care provider as defined in § 23-17.6-2 to accept

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any gift with a value of more than ten dollars ($10.00) from a nursing home patient.

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     (b) A health care provider who violates this section shall be liable for a civil penalty per

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violation of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) which

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shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general in any court of

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competent jurisdiction.

 

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     SECTION 3. 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 - RIGHTS OF ELDERLY PATIENTS

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     This act would prohibit health care workers from accepting gifts with a value of over ten

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dollars ($10.00) from patients.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005077

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