§ 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 services from the 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 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: Outpatient physician services and a limited formulary of prescription drugs to be established by the department, when the 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.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 40-6 - Public Assistance Act
Section 40-6-1. - Short title — “Public assistance” and “department” defined.
Section 40-6-3. - General public assistance.
Section 40-6-3.1. - Eligibility for general public assistance.
Section 40-6-3.2. - Form of assistance.
Section 40-6-3.3. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.4 - — 40-6-3.6. [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.7. - Local welfare offices.
Section 40-6-3.8. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.9. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.10. - Funeral and burial expenses.
Section 40-6-3.11. - “Dependent child” defined.
Section 40-6-3.12. - Enteral nutrition products.
Section 40-6-5.1. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-5.2. - Cashing of AFDC, GPA checks.
Section 40-6-5.3. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-6. - Authorization to pay assistance.
Section 40-6-7.1. - Expanded eligibility for pregnant women and young children.
Section 40-6-7.2. - Presumptive eligibility for pregnant women.
Section 40-6-8. - Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).
Section 40-6-8.1. - Prohibited uses of electronic benefit transfer cards.
Section 40-6-8.2. - Establishment of retail SNAP incentives pilot program.
Section 40-6-9.1. - Data matching — Healthcare coverages.
Section 40-6-10. - Effect of assistance on receipt of workers’ compensation benefits.
Section 40-6-11. - Report of income by recipients.
Section 40-6-12. - Records as to assistance.
Section 40-6-12.1. - Warrants — Release of information.
Section 40-6-13. - Appeals — Hearings.
Section 40-6-14. - Assistance not assignable — Exemption from process.
Section 40-6-15. - Fraudulently obtaining assistance.
Section 40-6-16. - Fraudulent use of food stamps.
Section 40-6-17. - Receipt and use of federal funds.
Section 40-6-18. - Agreements with other states.
Section 40-6-19. - Complainant in actions to invoke penalties.
Section 40-6-20. - Prosecution of criminal actions.
Section 40-6-21. - Child support — Income tax refund offset.
Section 40-6-21.1. - Voluntary acknowledgement of paternity — Hospital-based program.
Section 40-6-21.2. - Child medical support garnishment — State income tax offset.
Section 40-6-22. - Disclosure of information — Penalty.
Section 40-6-23. - Release of wage and earnings information.
Section 40-6-24. - Recipient not deemed pauper.
Section 40-6-25. - Rules and regulations.
Section 40-6-26. - Severability.
Section 40-6-27. - Supplemental Security Income.
Section 40-6-28. - Interim cash assistance for individuals with disabilities.