Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-17-67. Hospital determinations for Medicare and Medicaid for uninsured patients

(a) All hospitals shall screen each uninsured patient, upon the uninsured patient's agreement, at the earliest reasonable moment for potential eligibility for both:

(b) All screening activities, including initial screenings and all follow-up assistance, shall be provided in compliance with § 23-17-54.

(c) If a patient declines or fails to respond to the screening described in subsection (a) of this section, the hospital shall document in the patient's record the patient's decision to decline or failure to respond to the screening, confirming the date and method by which the patient declined or failed to respond.

(d) If a patient does not decline the screening described in subsection (a) of this section, a hospital shall screen an uninsured patient at the earliest reasonable moment.

(e) If a patient does not submit to screening, financial assistance application, or reasonable payment plan documentation within thirty (30) days after a request, the hospital shall document the lack of received documentation, confirming the date that the screening took place and that the thirty-day (30) timeline for responding to the hospital's request has lapsed;  provided, however, that it may be reopened within ninety (90) days after the date of discharge, date of service, or completion of the screening.

(f) If the screening indicates that the patient may be eligible for a public health insurance program, the hospital shall provide information to the patient about how the patient can apply for the public health insurance program, including, but not limited to, referral to healthcare navigators who provide free and unbiased eligibility and enrollment assistance, including healthcare navigators at federally qualified health centers;  local, state, or federal government agencies;  or any other resources that the state recognizes as designed to assist uninsured individuals in obtaining health coverage.

(g) If the uninsured patient's application for a public health insurance program is approved, the hospital shall bill the insuring entity and shall not pursue the patient for any aspect of the bill, except for any required copayment, coinsurance, or other similar payment for which the patient is responsible under the insurance.  If the uninsured patient's application for public health insurance is denied, the hospital shall again offer to screen the uninsured patient for hospital financial assistance, and the timeline for applying for financial assistance under this section shall begin again.

(h) A hospital shall offer to screen an insured patient for hospital financial assistance under this section if the patient requests financial assistance screening;  if the hospital is contacted in response to a bill;  if the hospital learns information that suggests an inability to pay;  or if the circumstances otherwise suggest the patient's inability to pay.