2017 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 23 - Health and Safety
Chapter 23-17.13 - Health Care Accessibility and Quality Assurance Act
Section 23-17.13-4 - Penalties and enforcement. [Repealed effective January 1, 2018.].

§ 23-17.13-4. Penalties and enforcement. [Repealed effective January 1, 2018.].

(a) The director of the department of health may, in lieu of the suspension or revocation of a license, levy an administrative penalty in an amount not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), if reasonable notice, in writing, is given of the intent to levy the penalty and the particular health organization has a reasonable time in which to remedy the defect in its operations which gave rise to the penalty citation. The director of health may augment this penalty by an amount equal to the sum that the director calculates to be the damages suffered by enrollees or other members of the public.

(b) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both.

(c)(1) If the director of health shall for any reason have cause to believe that any violation of this chapter has occurred or is threatened, the director of health may give notice to the particular health organization and to their representatives, or other persons who appear to be involved in the suspected violation, to arrange a conference with the alleged violators or their authorized representatives for the purpose of attempting to ascertain the facts relating to the suspected violation, and, in the event it appears that any violation has occurred or is threatened, to arrive at an adequate and effective means of correcting or preventing the violation;

(2) Proceedings under this subsection shall be governed by chapter 35 of title 42.

(d)(1) The director of health may issue an order directing a particular health organization or a representative of that health organization to cease and desist from engaging in any act or practice in violation of the provisions of this chapter;

(2) Within thirty (30) days after service of the order to cease and desist, the respondent may request a hearing on the question of whether acts or practices in violation of this chapter have occurred. Those hearings shall be conducted pursuant to §§ 42-35-9 through 42-35-13, and judicial review shall be available as provided by §§ 42-35-15 and 42-35-16.

(e) In the case of any violation of the provisions of this chapter, if the director of health elects not to issue a cease and desist order, or in the event of noncompliance with a cease and desist order issued pursuant to subsection (d), the director of health may institute a proceeding to obtain injunctive relief, or seeking other appropriate relief, in the superior court for the county of Providence.

History of Section.
(P.L. 1996, ch. 41, § 1.)