TITLE 40

Human services

CHAPTER 40-6

Public Assistance Act

SECTION 40-6-3.2



   § 40-6-3.2  Form of assistance. –

(a) General public assistance shall be provided in the form of:



   (1) Financial assistance payable by check;



   (2) Beginning on July 1, 1992, each hospital licensed under

chapter 17 of title 23, other than state-operated hospitals, shall provide free

services and charity care for reasonable and necessary inpatient and outpatient

hospital services as the department by regulation requires to serve all persons

seeking such services from such hospital who are determined to be eligible for

general public assistance. The latter shall be treated as free service and

charitable care. Each hospital shall, in addition, continue to provide free

services and charitable care to other persons in accordance with each

hospital's charter and mission statement and with §§ 23-17-19.1(13)

and 23-17-26. Eligibility for general public assistance shall be determined by

the department of human services. Each hospital required under this section to

provide services to individuals eligible for general public assistance shall,

upon request of the auditor general of the state, provide the auditor general

with such information as he or she shall request regarding the services

provided. The auditor general shall make annual reports to the finance

committees of the Rhode Island house and senate on general public assistance

hospital care. The obligations of hospitals under this section shall terminate

when vendor payments for hospitals have been restored;



   (3) Vendor payment of medical assistance as the department by

regulation determines for only the following reasonable and necessary medical

services;



   (4) Outpatient physician services and a limited formulary of

prescription drugs to be established by the department, when such services and

drugs are provided in, or approved by, an authorized health center, or by such

other providers and at such locations as may from time to time be designated by

the department. No payment shall be made for medical expenses incurred prior to

the date the individual makes written application for assistance.



   (b) The department is authorized to promulgate rules and

regulations to detect and prevent program abuse by recipients and providers of

assistance.



History of Section.

(P.L. 1987, ch. 118, art. 13, § 2; P.L. 1991, ch. 6, art. 11, § 1;

P.L. 1991, ch. 44, art. 23, § 3; P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 46, § 1;

P.L. 1993, ch. 138, art. 25, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 70, art. 18, §

1.)