The bill amends Section 23-17-19.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17, entitled "Licensing of Healthcare Facilities," to update the rights of patients in healthcare facilities. The amendment includes a new insertion that specifies the title "23-17-19.1. Rights of patients." It outlines various rights such as the right to considerate and respectful care, the right to know the name of the physician coordinating care, the right to privacy, the right to refuse treatment, and the right to be informed about transfers to other facilities. Additionally, patients have the right to know the identities of all healthcare and educational institutions involved in their treatment, the right to examine and receive explanations of their bills, and the right to examine healthcare facility rules and regulations governing their treatment.

Significant changes include the deletion of language that previously exempted healthcare facilities from informing patients about their use in human-subjects research under certain life-threatening situations. Instead, the bill now requires that an institutional review board must approve such research in accordance with patient consent and/or de-identification requirements as per federal regulations. The bill also stipulates that patients must be provided with a summarized medical bill within 30 days of discharge and that no fees can be charged for furnishing health records necessary for supporting appeals under the Social Security Act or claims under the Workers' Compensation Act. The act would take effect upon passage and also clarifies that healthcare facilities can conduct human-subject research on patients subject to federal regulations relating to the informed consent of human subjects.

Statutes affected:
7301  SUB B: 23-17-19.1
7301  SUB A: 23-17-19.1
7301: 23-17-19.1