Bill > S0487

This bill amends the existing patient rights law in Rhode Island by adding a new provision that explicitly prohibits healthcare facilities and their personnel from asking patients about their immigration status or requiring them to provide proof of legal presence in the United States. The bill adds this prohibition as subsection (19) to an existing statute that already outlines numerous patient rights, such as the right to respectful care, privacy, detailed billing information, and non-discrimination based on various personal characteristics. The new provision aims to ensure that all patients, regardless of their immigration status, can seek medical care without fear of being questioned about their legal standing in the country. The bill will take effect immediately upon its passage, meaning healthcare facilities in Rhode Island would be required to comply with this new requirement as soon as the bill becomes law.

Health and Social Services

https://status.rilegislature.gov/