Rhode Island General Laws Title 15. Domestic Relations § 15-10-8. Support for certain patients of nursing facilities

The uncompensated costs of care provided by a licensed nursing facility to any person may be recovered by the nursing facility from any child of that person who is above the age of eighteen (18) years, to the extent that the child previously received a transfer of any interests or assets from the person receiving such care, which transfer resulted in a period of Medicaid ineligibility imposed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(c), as amended from time to time, on a person whose assets have been transferred for less than fair market value.

Recourse hereunder shall be limited to the fair market value of the interests or assets transferred at the time of transfer. For the purposes of this section “the costs of care” shall mean the costs of providing care, including nursing care, personal care, meals, transportation and any other costs, charges, and expenses incurred by the facility. Costs of care shall not exceed the customary rate the nursing facility charges to a patient who pays for his or her care directly rather than through a governmental or other third party payor. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit or otherwise diminish any other causes of action possessed by any such nursing facility. The death of the person receiving nursing facility care shall not nullify or otherwise affect the liability of the person or persons charged with the costs of care hereunder.