# R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-4: License required for healthcare facility operation

> Rhode Island · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-4

## Section

- **Citation:** R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-4
- **Heading:** License required for healthcare facility operation
- **Jurisdiction:** Rhode Island
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-4

## Text

(a) No person acting severally or jointly with any other person shall establish, conduct, or maintain a healthcare facility in this state without a license under this chapter; provided, however, that any person, firm, corporation, or other entity that provides volunteer, registered and licensed practical nurses to the public shall not be required to have a license as a healthcare facility.

(b) Each location at which a healthcare facility provides services shall be licensed; provided, however, that a hospital or organized ambulatory-care facility shall be permitted to provide, solely on an ambulatory basis, limited physician services, other limited, professional healthcare services, and/or other limited, professional mental-healthcare services in conjunction with services provided by and at community health centers, community mental-health centers, organized ambulatory-care facilities or other licensed healthcare facilities, physicians€™ offices, and facilities operated by the department of corrections without establishing such locations as additional licensed premises of the hospital or organized ambulatory-care facility; provided, that a healthcare facility licensed as an organized ambulatory-care facility in the state, may provide services at other locations operated by that licensed organized ambulatory-care facility, without the requirement of a separate, organized ambulatory-care facility license for such other locations. For purposes of this section, an organized ambulatory-care facility or other licensed healthcare facility shall not include a freestanding emergency-care facility. The department is further authorized to adopt rules and regulations to accomplish the purpose of this section, including, but not limited to, defining €œlimited physician services, other limited, professional healthcare services, and/or other limited, professional mental-healthcare services.€

(c) The reimbursement rates for the services rendered in the settings listed in subsection (b) shall be subject to negotiations between the hospitals, organized, ambulatory-care facilities, and the payors, respectively, as defined in § 23-17.12-2.

## Nearby sections

- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-1 § 23-17-1. Short title.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-2 § 23-17-2. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-3 § 23-17-3. Purpose of provisions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-3.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-4 § 23-17-4. License required for healthcare facility operation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-4.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-4.1 § 23-17-4.1. Rules and regulations for school-based health centers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-4.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-5 § 23-17-5. Application for license.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-5.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-5.1 § 23-17-5.1. Additional information required of nursing facility applicants for initial licensure or change of ownership.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-5.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-5.2 § 23-17-5.2. Additional information required for license renewal of all nursing facilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-5.2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-6 § 23-17-6. Issuance of license €” Posting €” Transfer €” Conditions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-6.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-7 § 23-17-7. Expiration and renewal of license.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-7.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-8 § 23-17-8. Denial, suspension, or revocation of license.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-8.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-8.1 § 23-17-8.1. Curtailment of activities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-8.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-9 § 23-17-9. Judicial review of license action.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-9.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-10 § 23-17-10. Regulations, inspections, and investigations €” Certain hospitals required to provide on-premises coverage by physician €” Uniform reports €” Data systems.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-10.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T23_C23-17_S23-17-4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.