Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0941 Compare Versions

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55 2025 -- S 0941
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77 LC002174
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99 S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
1010 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1111 JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
1212 ____________
1313
1414 A N A C T
1515 RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONTINUING CARE PROV IDER
1616 REGISTRATION AND DISCLOSURE
1717 Introduced By: Senators McKenney, Murray, Sosnowski, Tikoian, Lawson, and
1818 LaMountain
1919 Date Introduced: April 04, 2025
2020 Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
2121
2222
2323 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
2424 SECTION 1. Sections 23-59-1, 23-59-2, 23-59-3, 23-59-4, 23-59-6, 23-59-7, 23-59-11 and 1
2525 23-59-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-59 entitled "Continuing Care Provider Registration 2
2626 and Disclosure" are hereby amended to read as follows: 3
2727 23-59-1. Definitions. 4
2828 As used in this chapter: 5
2929 (1) “Continuing care” means providing or committing to provide board, lodging, and 6
3030 nursing services to an individual, other than an individual related by blood or marriage: (i) pursuant 7
3131 to an agreement effective for the life of the individual or for a period in excess of one year, including 8
3232 mutually terminable contracts, and (ii) in consideration of the payment of an entrance fee and/or 9
3333 periodic charges. A contract shall be deemed to be one offering nursing services, irrespective of 10
3434 whether such services are provided under the contract, if nursing services are offered to the resident 11
3535 entering the contract either at the facility in question or continuing care at home program or 12
3636 pursuant to arrangement specifically offered to residents of the facility or participants of a 13
3737 continuing care at home program. 14
3838 (2) "Continuing care at home program" means a membership-based program that provides 15
3939 participants with a comprehensive package of support services designed to enable older adults to 16
4040 live independently in their homes while ensuring access to higher levels of care if needed. Such 17
4141 services may include, but are not limited to, home care, adult day services, assisted living, and 18
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4545 skilled nursing facility care. Participants in a continuing care at home program shall be required to 1
4646 pay an entrance fee and subsequent monthly fees for the provision of services. 2
4747 (2)(3) “Department” means the Rhode Island state department of health. 3
4848 (3)(4) “Entrance fee” means an initial or deferred transfer to a provider of a sum of money 4
4949 or other property made or promised to be made in advance or at some future time as full or partial 5
5050 consideration for acceptance of a specified individual as a resident in a facility or participant in a 6
5151 continuing care at home program. A fee which is less than the sum of the regular periodic charges 7
5252 for one year of residency shall not be considered to be an entrance fee. 8
5353 (4)(5) “Facility” means the place or places in which a person undertakes to provide 9
5454 continuing care to an individual. 10
5555 (5)(6) “Provider” means any person, corporation, partnership, or other entity that provides 11
5656 or offers to provide continuing care to any individual in an existing or proposed facility in this state 12
5757 or in the individual’s home through a continuing care at home program. Two or more related 13
5858 individuals, corporations, partnerships, or other entities may be treated as a single provider if they 14
5959 cooperate in offering services to the residents of a facility or to participants of continuing care at 15
6060 home programs. 16
6161 (6)(7) “Resident” means an individual entitled to receive continuing care in a facility or at 17
6262 home through a continuing care at home program. 18
6363 (7)(8) “Solicit” means all actions of a provider or the provider’s agent in seeking to have 19
6464 individuals enter into continuing care agreement by any means such as, but not limited to, personal, 20
6565 telephone, or mail communication or any other communication directed to and received by an 21
6666 individual, and any advertisements in any media distributed or communicated by any means to 22
6767 individuals. 23
6868 23-59-2. Registration. 24
6969 (a) Except as provided in § 23-59-13, no provider shall engage in the business of providing 25
7070 or offering to provide continuing care at a facility or at a participant’s home through a continuing 26
7171 care at home program in this state unless the provider has registered with the department with 27
7272 respect to the facility or continuing care at home program. 28
7373 (b) A registration statement shall be filed with the department by the provider on forms 29
7474 prescribed by the department and shall include: 30
7575 (1) All information required by the department pursuant to its enforcement of this chapter; 31
7676 and 32
7777 (2) The initial disclosure statement required by § 23-59-3. 33
7878 (c) Registration shall be deemed complete if the department has not notified the provider 34
7979
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8282 of incompleteness within ninety (90) days of the filing. 1
8383 23-59-3. Disclosure statement. 2
8484 (a) The disclosure statement of each facility or continuing care at home program shall 3
8585 contain all of the following information unless the information is contained in the continuing care 4
8686 contract and a copy of that contract is attached to and made a part of the initial disclosure statement: 5
8787 (1) The name and business address of the provider and a statement of whether the provider 6
8888 is a partnership, foundation, association, corporation, or other type of business or legal entity. 7
8989 (2) Full information regarding ownership of the property on which the facility or continuing 8
9090 care at home program is or will be operated and of the buildings in which it is or will be operated. 9
9191 (3) The names and business addresses of the officers, directors, trustees, managing or 10
9292 general partners, and any person having a ten percent (10%) or greater equity or beneficial interest 11
9393 in the provider, and a description of that person’s interest in or occupation with the provider. 12
9494 (4) For the provider, any person named in response to subsection (a)(3), or the proposed 13
9595 management, if the facility or continuing care at home program will be managed on a day-to-day 14
9696 basis by a person other than an individual directly employed by the provider: 15
9797 (i) A description of any business experience in the operation or management of similar 16
9898 facilities or continuing care at home program. 17
9999 (ii) The name and address of any professional service, firm, association, foundation, trust, 18
100100 partnership, or corporation or any other business or legal entity in which the person has, or which 19
101101 has in the person, a ten percent (10%) or greater interest and which it is presently intended will or 20
102102 may provide goods, leases, or services to the provider of a value of five hundred dollars ($500) or 21
103103 more, within any year, including: 22
104104 (A) A description of the goods, leases, or services and the probable or anticipated cost 23
105105 thereof to the provider; 24
106106 (B) The process by which the contract was awarded; 25
107107 (C) Any additional offers that were received; and 26
108108 (D) Any additional information requested by the department detailing how and why a 27
109109 contract was awarded. 28
110110 (iii) A description of any matter in which the person: 29
111111 (A) Has been convicted of a felony or pleaded nolo contendere to a felony charge, or been 30
112112 held liable or enjoined in a civil action by final judgment if the felony or civil action involved fraud, 31
113113 embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, or misappropriation of property; or 32
114114 (B) Is subject to an injunctive order of a court of record, or within the past five (5) years 33
115115 had any state or federal license or permit suspended or revoked as a result of an action brought by 34
116116
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119119 a governmental agency or department, arising out of or relating to business activity or health care, 1
120120 including without limitation actions affecting a license to operate a foster care facility, nursing 2
121121 home, retirement home, home for the aged, or facility or continuing care at home program 3
122122 registered under this chapter or similar laws in another state; or 4
123123 (C) Is currently the subject of any state or federal prosecution or administrative 5
124124 investigation involving allegations of fraud, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, or 6
125125 misappropriation of property. 7
126126 (5) A statement as to: 8
127127 (i) Whether the provider is or ever has been affiliated with a religious, charitable, or other 9
128128 nonprofit organization, the nature of any such affiliation, and the extent to which the affiliate 10
129129 organization is or will be responsible for the financial and contractual obligations of the provider; 11
130130 and 12
131131 (ii) Any provision of the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., under which 13
132132 the provider is exempt from the payment of income tax. 14
133133 (6) The location and description of the real property of the facility, existing or proposed, 15
134134 and to the extent proposed, the estimated completion date or dates of improvements, whether or not 16
135135 construction has begun and the contingencies under which construction may be deferred. 17
136136 (7) The services provided or proposed to be provided under continuing care contracts, 18
137137 including the extent to which medical care is furnished or is available pursuant to any arrangement. 19
138138 The disclosure statement shall clearly state which services are included in basic continuing care 20
139139 contracts and which services are made available by the provider at extra charge. 21
140140 (8) A description of all fees required of residents, including any entrance fees and periodic 22
141141 charges. The description shall include: (i) a description of all proposed uses of any funds or property 23
142142 required to be transferred to the provider or any other person prior to the resident’s occupancy of 24
143143 the facility and of any entrance fee, (ii) whether provisions exist for the escrowing and return of 25
144144 any such funds, property, or entrance fee and the manner and any conditions of return, and (iii) the 26
145145 manner by which the provider may adjust periodic charges or other recurring fees and any 27
146146 limitations on such adjustments. If the facility is already in operation, or if the provider operates 28
147147 one or more similar facilities within this state, there shall be included tables showing the frequency 29
148148 and average dollar amount of each increase in periodic rates at each facility for the previous five 30
149149 (5) years or such shorter period that the facility has been operated by the provider. 31
150150 (9) Any provisions that have been made or will be made to provide reserve funding or 32
151151 security to enable the provider to fully perform its obligations under continuing care contracts, 33
152152 including the establishment of escrow accounts, trusts, or reserve funds, together with the manner 34
153153
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156156 in which such funds will be invested and the names and experience of persons who will make the 1
157157 investment decisions. 2
158158 (10) Certified financial statements of the provider, including: (i) a balance sheet as of the 3
159159 end of the two (2) most recent fiscal years and (ii) income statements of the provider for the two 4
160160 (2) most recent fiscal years or such shorter period that the provider has been in existence. 5
161161 (11) A pro forma income statement for the current fiscal year. 6
162162 (12) If the operation of the facility or continuing care at home program has not yet 7
163163 commenced, a statement of the anticipated source and application of the funds used or to be used 8
164164 in the purchase or construction of the facility or continuing care at home program, including: 9
165165 (i) An estimate of the cost of purchasing or constructing and equipping the facility 10
166166 including such related costs as financing expense, legal expense, land costs, occupancy 11
167167 development costs, and all other similar costs that the provider expects to incur or become obligated 12
168168 for prior to the commencement of operations. 13
169169 (ii) A description of any mortgage loan or other long-term financing intended to be used 14
170170 for any purpose in the financing of the facility or continuing care at home program and of the 15
171171 anticipated terms and costs of the financing, including without limitation all payments of the 16
172172 proceeds of the financing to the provider, management, or any related person. 17
173173 (iii) An estimate of the percentage of entrance fees that will be used or pledged for the 18
174174 construction or purchase of the facility or continuing care at home program, as security for long-19
175175 term financing or for any other use in connection with the commencement of operation of the 20
176176 facility or continuing care at home program. 21
177177 (iv) An estimate of the total entrance fees to be received from or on behalf of residents at 22
178178 or prior to commencement of operation of the facility or continuing care at home program. 23
179179 (v) An estimate of the funds, if any, which are anticipated to be necessary to fund start-up 24
180180 losses and provide reserve funds to assure full performance of the obligations of the provider under 25
181181 continuing care contracts. 26
182182 (vi) A projection of estimated income from fees and charges other than entrance fees, 27
183183 showing individual rates presently anticipated to be charged and including a description of the 28
184184 assumptions used for calculating the estimated occupancy rate of the facility and the effect on the 29
185185 income of the facility of any government subsidies for health care services to be provided pursuant 30
186186 to the continuing care contracts. 31
187187 (vii) A projection of estimated operating expenses of the facility or continuing care at home 32
188188 program, including (i) a description of the assumptions used in calculating any expenses and 33
189189 separate allowances for the replacement of equipment and furnishings and anticipated major 34
190190
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193193 structural repairs or additions and (ii) an estimate of the percentage of occupancy required for 1
194194 continued operation of the facility or continuing care at home program. 2
195195 (viii) Identification of any assets pledged as collateral for any purpose. 3
196196 (ix) An estimate of annual payments of principal and interest required by the mortgage loan 4
197197 or other long-term financing. 5
198198 (13) A description of the provider’s criteria for admission of new residents. 6
199199 (14) A description of the provider’s policies regarding access to the facility or continuing 7
200200 care at home program and its services for nonresidents. 8
201201 (15) Any other material information concerning the facility or continuing care at home 9
202202 program or the provider that may be required by the department or included by the provider. 10
203203 (b) The disclosure statement shall state on its cover that the filing of the disclosure 11
204204 statement with the department does not constitute approval, recommendation, or endorsement of 12
205205 the facility by the department. 13
206206 (c) A copy of the standard form or forms for continuing care contracts used by the provider 14
207207 shall be attached as an exhibit to each disclosure statement. 15
208208 (d) If the department determines that the disclosure statement does not comply with the 16
209209 provisions of this chapter, it shall have the right to take action pursuant to § 23-59-16. 17
210210 23-59-4. Availability of disclosure statement to prospective residents. 18
211211 At least three (3) days prior to the execution of a continuing care contract or the transfer of 19
212212 any money or other property to a provider by or on behalf of a prospective resident, whichever first 20
213213 occurs, the provider shall deliver to the person with whom the contract is to be entered into a copy 21
214214 of a disclosure statement with respect to the facility or continuing care at home program in question 22
215215 meeting all requirements of this chapter as of the date of its delivery. 23
216216 23-59-6. Resident’s contract. 24
217217 (a) In addition to other provisions considered proper to effect the purpose of any continuing 25
218218 care contract, each contract executed on or after June 18, 1987 shall: 26
219219 (1) Provide for the continuing care of only one resident, or for two (2) or more persons 27
220220 occupying space designed for multiple occupancy, under appropriate rules established by the 28
221221 provider. 29
222222 (2) Show the value of all property transferred, including donations, subscriptions, fees, and 30
223223 any other amounts paid or payable by, or on behalf of, the resident or residents. 31
224224 (3) Specify all services which are to be provided by the provider to each resident including, 32
225225 in detail, all items that each resident will receive and whether the items will be provided for a 33
226226 designated time period or for life and the estimated current monthly cost to the provider for 34
227227
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230230 providing the care. Such items may include, but are not limited to, food, shelter, nursing care, drugs, 1
231231 burial, and incidentals. 2
232232 (4) Describe the physical and mental health and financial conditions, if any, upon which 3
233233 the provider may require the resident to relinquish his or her space in the designated facility or 4
234234 continuing care at home program. 5
235235 (5) Describe the physical and mental health and financial conditions required for a person 6
236236 to continue as a resident of the facility or continuing care at home program. 7
237237 (6) Describe the circumstances under which the resident will be permitted to remain in the 8
238238 facility or continuing care at home program in the event of financial difficulties of the resident. 9
239239 (7) State: 10
240240 (i) The current fees that would be charged if the resident marries while at the designated 11
241241 facility or continuing care at home program; 12
242242 (ii) The terms concerning the entry of a spouse to the facility or continuing care at home 13
243243 program; and 14
244244 (iii) The consequences if the spouse does not meet the requirements for entry. 15
245245 (8) Provide that the provider shall not cancel any continuing care contract with any resident 16
246246 without good cause. Good cause shall be limited to: 17
247247 (i) Proof that the resident is a danger to himself, herself, or others; 18
248248 (ii) Nonpayment by the resident of a monthly or periodic fee; 19
249249 (iii) Repeated conduct by the resident that interferes with other residents’ quiet enjoyment 20
250250 of the facility; or 21
251251 (iv) Persistent refusal to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations of the 22
252252 facility. If a provider seeks to cancel a contract and terminate a resident’s occupancy within a 23
253253 facility or participation in a continuing care at home program, the provider shall give the resident 24
254254 written notice of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure within a reasonable period, whatever conduct 25
255255 is alleged to warrant the cancellation of the agreement. Nothing herein shall operate to relieve the 26
256256 provider from duties under chapter 18 of title 34 when seeking to terminate a resident’s occupancy. 27
257257 (9) Provide in clear and understandable language, in print no smaller than the largest type 28
258258 used in the body of the contract, the terms governing the refund of any portion of the entrance fee 29
259259 and the terms under which entrance fees can be used by the provider. 30
260260 (10) State the terms under which a contract is cancelled by the death of the resident. The 31
261261 contract may contain a provision to the effect that, upon the death of the resident, the money paid 32
262262 for the continuing care of the deceased resident shall be considered earned and become the property 33
263263 of the provider. When more than one individual shares a residential unit, the contract shall set forth 34
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267267 the effect that the death of one resident will have on the agreement between the other resident or 1
268268 residents and the provider. 2
269269 (11) Provide for at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice to the resident, before any change 3
270270 in fees, charges, or the scope of care or services may be effective, except for changes required by 4
271271 state or federal assistance programs. 5
272272 (12) Provide that charges for care paid in one lump sum shall not be increased or changed 6
273273 during the duration of the agreed upon care, except for changes required by state or federal 7
274274 assistance programs. 8
275275 (b) A resident shall have the right to rescind a continuing care contract, without penalty or 9
276276 forfeiture, within seven (7) days after making an initial deposit or executing the contract. A resident 10
277277 shall not be required to move into the facility designated in the contract before the expiration of 11
278278 that seven (7) day period. 12
279279 (c) If a resident dies before occupying the facility or beginning the continuing care at home 13
280280 program, or is precluded through illness, injury, or incapacity from becoming a resident under the 14
281281 terms of the continuing care contract, the contract is automatically rescinded, and the resident or 15
282282 his or her legal representative shall receive a full refund of all money paid to the provider, except 16
283283 those costs specifically incurred by the provider at the request of the resident and set forth in writing 17
284284 in a separate addendum, signed by both parties to the contract. 18
285285 (d) No standard continuing care contract form shall be used in this state until it has been 19
286286 submitted to the department. If the department determines that the contract does not comply with 20
287287 the provisions of this chapter, it shall have the right to take action pursuant to § 23-59-16 to prevent 21
288288 its use. The failure of the department to object to or disapprove of any contract shall not be evidence 22
289289 that the contract does or does not comply with the provisions of this chapter. However, 23
290290 individualized amendments to any standard form need not be filed with the department. 24
291291 23-59-7. Sale or transfer of ownership or change in management. 25
292292 (a) No provider and no person or entity owning a provider shall sell or transfer, directly or 26
293293 indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the ownership of the provider or of a continuing care 27
294294 facility or continuing care at home program without giving the department written notice of the 28
295295 intended sale or transfer at least thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of the sale or transfer. 29
296296 A series of sales or transfers to one person or entity, or one or more entities controlled by one person 30
297297 or entity, consummated within a six (6) month period that constitutes, in the aggregate, a sale or 31
298298 transfer of more than fifty percent (50%) of the ownership of a provider or of a continuing care 32
299299 facility or continuing care at home program shall be subject to the foregoing notice provisions. 33
300300 (b) A provider or continuing care facility or continuing care at home program that shall 34
301301
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304304 change its chief executive officer, or its management firm if managed under a contract with a third 1
305305 party, shall promptly notify the department and the residents of each change of chief executive 2
306306 officer or management firm. 3
307307 23-59-11. Right of residents to organize — Meetings. 4
308308 (a) Residents shall have the right of self-organization. No retaliatory conduct shall be 5
309309 permitted against any resident for membership or participation in a residents’ organization. The 6
310310 provider shall be required to provide to the organization a copy of all submissions to the department. 7
311311 (b) The board of directors, its designated representative, or other such governing body of a 8
312312 continuing care facility or continuing care at home program shall hold meetings at least quarterly 9
313313 with the residents or representatives elected by the residents of the continuing care facility or 10
314314 continuing care at home program for the purpose of free discussion of issues relating to the facility 11
315315 or continuing care at home program. Such issues may include income, expenditures, and financial 12
316316 matters as they apply to the facility or continuing care at home program and proposed changes in 13
317317 policies, programs, facilities, and services. Residents shall be entitled to seven (7) days’ notice of 14
318318 each meeting. 15
319319 23-59-12. Civil liability. 16
320320 (a) A person contracting with a provider for continuing care may terminate the continuing 17
321321 care contract, and the provider shall be liable to the person contracting for continuing care for 18
322322 repayment of all fees paid to the provider, facility, or person violating this chapter, together with 19
323323 interest thereon at the legal rate for judgments, court costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees, less the 20
324324 reasonable value of care and lodging provided to the resident prior to the termination of the contract 21
325325 and for damages if after June 18, 1987 the provider or a person acting on the provider’s behalf, 22
326326 with or without actual knowledge of the violation, entered into a contract with the person: 23
327327 (1) For continuing care at a facility or continuing care at home program which has not 24
328328 registered under this chapter; 25
329329 (2) Without having first provided to the person a disclosure statement meeting the 26
330330 requirements of this chapter and not omitting a material fact required to be stated therein or 27
331331 necessary in order to make the statements made therein not misleading, in light of the circumstances 28
332332 under which they are made; or 29
333333 (3) If the contract does not meet the requirements of § 23-59-6. 30
334334 (b) A person who willfully or recklessly aids or abets a provider in any act prohibited by 31
335335 this section shall be liable as set out in subsection (a) of this section. 32
336336 (c) The department shall have no jurisdiction to adjudicate controversies concerning 33
337337 continuing care contracts. A breach of contract shall not be deemed a violation of this chapter. 34
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341341 Termination of a contract pursuant to subsection (a) shall not preclude the resident’s seeking any 1
342342 other remedies available under any law. 2
343343 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 3
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350350 EXPLANATION
351351 BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
352352 OF
353353 A N A C T
354354 RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONTINUING CARE PROVIDER
355355 REGISTRATION AND DISCLOSURE
356356 ***
357357 This act would allow continuing care providers to provide care in an individual’s home, 1
358358 subject to the same disclosures and requirements as continuing care provided in a facility. 2
359359 This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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