§ 23-17.5-1. Condition of admission. As part of the procedure for admission of a patient to a nursing home, as defined in chapter 17 of this title, a written contract shall be entered into between the patient or the patient’s next of kin or legal representative, and the nursing home. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. […]
§ 23-17.5-10. Performance of services by patients. A patient shall not be required to perform services for the facility that are not included for therapeutic purposes in the patient’s plan of care. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-11. Participation in activities. Patients may meet with and participate in activities of social, religious, and community groups at their discretion unless medically contraindicated per written medical order. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-12. Visitors. (a) Patients may associate and communicate privately with persons of their choice and shall be allowed freedom and privacy in sending and receiving mail. (b) Posted reasonable visiting hours must be maintained in each home, with a minimum of four (4) hours daily. (c) The facility shall permit the long term care […]
§ 23-17.5-13. Personal services. Patients shall have the right to obtain personal services or to purchase personal needs outside of the facility. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-14. Right to privacy. (a) The patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality shall extend to all records pertaining to the patient. Release of any records shall be subject to the patient’s approval except in case of transfer to another health care facility or as otherwise provided by law. (b) The right to privacy and […]
§ 23-17.5-15. Financial affairs. A patient may manage his or her personal financial affairs or shall be given at least quarterly accounting of financial transactions made on his or her behalf, if written delegation of this responsibility was accepted by the facility for a stipulated period of time and in conformance with state laws. History […]
§ 23-17.5-16. Married patient. If married, patients shall be assured privacy for visits by the spouse; if both are inpatients in the facility, they may share a room unless medically contraindicated per written order of the physician and subject to the availability of accommodations within the facility. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-17. Transfer to another facility. (a) Before transferring a patient to another facility or level of care within a facility, the patient shall be informed of the need for the transfer and of any alternatives to the transfer. (b) A patient shall be transferred or discharged only for medical reasons, or for the patient’s […]
§ 23-17.5-18. Development of responsibilities. All rights and responsibilities specified in §§ 23-17.5-3, 23-17.5-7, 23-17.5-15, and 23-17.5-17 shall devolve, in order of priority, to a patient’s guardian, next of kin, sponsoring agency(ies) or representative payor (except when the facility itself is the representative payor) for patients who are: (1) Adjudicated incompetent in accordance with state […]
§ 23-17.5-19. Discrimination. Each patient shall be offered treatment without discrimination as to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, source of payment, disability, or diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 149, § 2; P.L. 1991, ch. 212, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 323, […]
§ 23-17.5-2. Care of patient. Each patient shall be treated and cared for with consideration, respect, and dignity, and shall be afforded his or her right to privacy to the extent consistent with providing adequate medical care and with efficient administration. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-20. Posting of law. Every nursing home licensed pursuant to this title shall display a copy of the provisions of this chapter and related information in a conspicuous place in each nursing home. At a minimum the display must include the following: (1) A summary of the major provisions of chapter 17.5 of this […]
§ 23-17.5-21. Penalties. Any nursing home which refuses or neglects to post provisions or which violates the requirements of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for each violation punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) and/or six (6) months in jail. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-22. Enforcement. The director of the department of health and/or local or state police within their respective jurisdictions, upon receipt of a complaint from any citizen, are empowered to enforce the provisions of this chapter. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-23. Severability. The provisions of this chapter are severable, and if any of its provisions shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of the court shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
§ 23-17.5-24. Resident for more than six months — Right to remain after depletion of funds — Penalty for violations. Every patient who has been a resident of a nursing home which participates in the Rhode Island medical assistance program and has made payments from private funds for at least six (6) months shall, upon […]
§ 23-17.5-25. Notice on bed-hold policy and readmission. (a) Notice before transfer. Before a resident of a nursing facility is transferred for hospitalization or therapeutic leave, a nursing facility must provide written information to the resident and a family member or legal representative concerning: (1) The provisions of the medical assistance program state plan regarding […]
§ 23-17.5-26. Smoke-free environment. (a) Smoke-free environment. Nursing home patients shall have the right to live in a tobacco smoke-free environment. It shall be prohibited for any person other than a nursing home resident to smoke in any nursing home in Rhode Island. It shall be prohibited for any nursing home resident to smoke in […]
§ 23-17.5-27. Heat relief. Any nursing home facility which does not provide air conditioning in every patient room shall provide an air conditioned room or rooms in a residential section or sections of the facility to provide relief to patients when the outdoor temperature exceeds eighty (80) degrees Fahrenheit. History of Section.P.L. 2000, ch. 243, […]
