Prohibits the practice of patient brokering and would provide monetary penalties and enforcement by the office of the attorney general.
Impact
Upon passage, H7142 would amend Title 6 of the Rhode Island General Laws, enhancing the state's legal framework regarding unfair sales practices in health care. The enforcement of this act would be managed by the Office of the Attorney General, which would be empowered to impose severe monetary penalties on violators. The act categorizes breaches based on the number of affected patients, with fines escalating from $50,000 for fewer than ten patients to as high as $500,000 for violations affecting twenty or more patients. This tiered penalty structure aims to deter potential offenders from engaging in such practices.
Summary
House Bill H7142, introduced in January 2024, establishes the Patient Brokering Act, which aims to prohibit the unethical practice of patient brokering within the state's health care system. This act defines patient brokering as the offering or accepting of commissions or other forms of inducements to influence the referral of patients between health care providers and facilities. The legislation targets practices that could compromise patient care and lead to financial exploitation under the guise of medical treatment.
Contention
The bill has the potential to generate debate within the healthcare community and among lawmakers. Supporters argue that H7142 is a necessary measure to protect vulnerable patients from being exploited by unscrupulous providers looking to profit from patient referrals. Opponents, however, may raise concerns regarding the implications of stringent enforcement on legitimate business practices and health care operations. It is crucial for stakeholders in the healthcare sector to engage in discussions about how the law can effectively protect patients while ensuring that healthcare providers can operate without undue restrictions.