2026 -- H 7171 | |
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LC003731 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PATIENT PAYMENT | |
INFORMATION | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Giraldo, Spears, Shallcross Smith, and Potter | |
Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS" |
2 | is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 37.9 |
4 | PATIENT PAYMENT INFORMATION |
5 | 5-37.9-1. Patient payment information -- Requiring electronic payment information |
6 | prohibited. |
7 | (a) No healthcare provider, as defined in ยง 5-37.3-12, shall require a patient to provide bank |
8 | account information, a credit card number, a debit card number or any other form of electronic |
9 | payment to be kept on file with the healthcare provider as a prerequisite to seeing the patient for an |
10 | office visit or providing any healthcare service to the patient. |
11 | (b) A violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be considered an unfair trade practice |
12 | pursuant to chapter 13.1 of title 6 ("deceptive trade practices"). |
13 | (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to: |
14 | (1) Affect a patient's obligation to pay for healthcare services; or |
15 | (2) Prohibit a healthcare provider from requesting, collecting or storing bank, credit or |
16 | debit card or other payment-related information if the patient agrees to provide such information. |
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1 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PATIENT PAYMENT | |
INFORMATION | |
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1 | This act would prohibit a healthcare provider from requiring patients to provide electronic |
2 | payment information to be kept on file as a condition to receiving treatment. The act would make |
3 | a violation of this section a deceptive trade practice. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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