CHAPTER 9 HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE

The Patient Protection Act prohibits health care providers from charging individuals for any referral services that the health care provider is supplying.

It shall be illegal to willfully and knowingly solicit or receive any type of payment directly or indirectly,

1. in return for referring for health care services,

2. in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for people to purchase or lease facilities, goods or services,

3. to willfully and knowingly purchase or offer payment indirectly or directly to the above services, or

4. to purchase, lease, order, arrange for, or recommend the above health care facilities, goods, or services.

Engaging in these acts constitutes a misdemeanor and after conviction shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned for one (1) year or both.

Buying or recommending the above health care constitutes a misdemeanor and, after conviction, the person shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned for one (1)year, or both.

The exemptions to this law are as follows:

1. reduction in price;

2. any amount paid by employer to an employee;

3. any amount paid by a supplier of goods and services

a. the individual has a contract with everyone covering every issue involved; and

b. disclosing information as required by the director of the entity for every person as a matter of policy;

4. a waiver by the federally qualified health care center under the Public Health Care Act; or

5. any payment practice specified in the regulation adopted by the Health and Human Services Secretary.

In addition to any penalty, any other violation of this section by the provision within the regulations governing the section health care licenses will be revoked.

To report a violation contact:

Department of Elderly Affairs

Home And Community Care Services to the Elderly 42-66.3

This program promotes independent living and allowing people to remain at home. It is the intent to prevent or delay institutionalization.

To receive the in-home health care without a charge, the individual must meet the following criteria: any person sixty-five (65) or older who is homebound and a RI resident who meets the financial guidelines for the RI medical assistance program, except that they may retain cash and/or liquid resources not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000). To receive the in-home health care co-payment portion, the individual must meet the following criteria: any unmarried homebound resident who lives separate and apart of the state and is at least sixty-five (65) or older whose income does not exceed the income eligibility of the RI pharmaceutical assistance to the elderly program or any married resident who is at least sixty-five (65) or older and whose combined income does not exceed the income eligibility of the RI pharmaceutical assistance to the elderly program.

To report a violation contact:

Department of Elderly Affairs