Chapter 091

2012 -- S 2247

Enacted 05/22/12

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO THE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE AND DISCIPLINE

          

     Introduced By: Senators Ottiano, Perry, Bates, Tassoni, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2012

     

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Section 5-37-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-37 entitled "Board of

Medical Licensure and Discipline" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     5-37-1. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter:

      (1) "Board" means the Rhode Island board of medical licensure and discipline or any

committee or subcommittee thereof.

      (2) "Chief administrative officer" means the administrator of the Rhode Island board of

medical licensure and discipline.

      (3) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health.

      (4) "Director" means director of the Rhode Island department of health.

      (5) "Health care facility" means any institutional health service provider licensed

pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17 of title 23.

      (6) "Health maintenance organization" means a public or private organization licensed

pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17 of title 23 or chapter 41 of title 27.

      (7) "Limited registrant" means a person holding a limited registration certificate pursuant

to the provisions of this chapter.

      (8) "Medical malpractice" or "malpractice" means any tort, or breach of contract based

on health care or professional services rendered, or which should have been rendered, by a

physician, dentist, hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization or professional service

corporation providing health care services and organized under chapter 5.1 of title 7, to a patient

or the rendering of medically unnecessary services except at the informed request of the patient.

      (9) "Medical practice group" means a single legal entity formed primarily for the

purpose of being a physician group practice in any organizational form recognized by the state in

which the group practice achieves its legal status, including, but not limited to, a partnership,

professional corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, foundation, not-

for-profit corporation, faculty practice plan, or similar association.

     (10) “Medical record” means a record of a patient’s medical information and treatment

history maintained by physicians and other medical personnel, which includes, but is not limited

to, information related to medical diagnosis, immunizations, allergies, x-rays, copies of laboratory

reports, records of prescriptions, and other technical information used in assessing the patient’s

health condition, whether such information is maintained in a paper or electronic format.

     (10)(11) "Nonprofit medical services corporation" or "nonprofit hospital service

corporation" means any corporation organized pursuant to chapter 19 or chapter 20 of title 27 for

the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and operating a nonprofit medical service plan.

      (11)(12) (i) "Peer review board" means any committee of a state or local professional

association or society including a hospital association, or a committee of any licensed health care

facility, or the medical staff thereof, or any committee of a medical care foundation or health

maintenance organization, or any committee of a professional service corporation or nonprofit

corporation employing twenty (20) or more practicing professionals, organized for the purpose of

furnishing medical service, or any staff committee or consultant of a hospital service or medical

service corporation, the function of which, or one of the functions of which is to evaluate and

improve the quality of health care rendered by providers of health care service or to determine

that health care services rendered were professionally indicated or were performed in compliance

with the applicable standard of care or that the cost of health care rendered was considered

reasonable by the providers of professional health care services in the area and shall include a

committee functioning as a utilization review committee under the provisions of 42 U.S.C.

section 1395 et seq.(Medicare law) or as a professional standards review organization or

statewide professional standards review council under the provisions of 42 U.S.C. section 1301 et

seq. (professional standards review organizations) or a similar committee or a committee of

similar purpose, to evaluate or review the diagnosis or treatment of the performance or rendition

of medical or hospital services which are performed under public medical programs of either state

or federal design.

      (ii) "Peer review board" also means the board of trustees or board of directors of a state

or local professional association or society, a licensed health care facility, a medical care

foundation, a health maintenance organization, and a hospital service or medical service

corporation only when such board of trustees or board of directors is reviewing the proceedings,

records, or recommendations of a peer review board of the above enumerated organizations.

      (12)(13) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust

or estate, state or political subdivision, or instrumentality of a state.

      (13)(14) "Physician" means a person with a license to practice allopathic or osteopathic

medicine in this state under the provisions of this chapter.

      (14)(15) "Practice of medicine" includes the practice of allopathic and osteopathic

medicine. Any person is regarded as practicing medicine within the meaning of this chapter who

holds himself or herself out as being able to diagnose, treat, operate, or prescribe for any person

ill or alleged to be ill with disease, pain, injury, deformity or abnormal physical or mental

condition, or who either professes to heal, offer or undertake, by any means or method to

diagnose, treat, operate, or prescribe for any person for disease, pain, injury, deformity or

physical or mental condition. In addition, one who attaches the title, M.D., physician, surgeon,

D.O., osteopathic physician and surgeon, or any other similar word or words or abbreviation to

his or her name indicating that he or she is engaged in the treatment or diagnosis of the diseases,

injuries or conditions of persons shall be held to be engaged in the practice of medicine.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC00908

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