Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-1-53. Cost of legal fees

(a) The director is hereby authorized and may in his or her discretion recover the reasonable cost of legal services provided to the department of health by attorneys of the office of legal counsel or attorneys under contract to perform attorney functions and activities for the department of health pursuant to chapters 15 and 17.14 of this title and §§ 23-17-14.3 and 23-17-14.4.  Nothing in this section shall limit the power of the director to retain legal counsel and to recover the costs of such legal counsel pursuant to other provisions of the general laws.

(b) There is created within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as the “health systems reimbursement account”.  All funds deposited in the account shall be utilized by the department of health to implement the provisions of this section incurred by the department pursuant to chapters 15 and 17.14 of this title and §§ 23-17-14.3 and 23-17-14.4.  All funds received for the department pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the “health system reimbursement account”.  The general treasurer is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders on the account upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers from the department of health.