§ 27-20-1. Definitions.

Rhode IslandStatutes

Ask Donna

How this section applies to your facts.

RI Code › Title 27 › Chapter 27-20 › Section 27-20-1

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

Text

As used in this chapter:

(1) €œAdverse benefit determination€ means any of the following: a denial, reduction, or termination of, or a failure to provide or make payment (in whole or in part) for, a benefit, including any such denial, reduction, termination, or failure to provide or make payment that is based on a determination of an individual€™s eligibility to participate in a plan or to receive coverage under a plan, and including, with respect to group health plans, a denial, reduction, or termination of, or a failure to provide or make payment (in whole or in part) for, a benefit resulting from the application of any utilization review, as well as a failure to cover an item or service for which benefits are otherwise provided because it is determined to be experimental or investigational or not medically necessary or appropriate. The term also includes a rescission of coverage determination.

(2) €œAffordable Care Act€ means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and federal regulations adopted thereunder.

(3) €œCertified registered nurse practitioners€ is an expanded role utilizing independent knowledge of physical assessment and management of health care and illnesses. The practice includes collaboration with other licensed healthcare professionals including, but not limited to, physicians, pharmacists, podiatrists, dentists, and nurses.

(4) €œCommissioner€ or €œhealth insurance commissioner€ means that individual appointed pursuant to §€‚42-14.5-1.

(5) €œCounselor in mental health€ means a person who has been licensed pursuant to §€‚5-63.2-9.

(6) €œEssential health benefits€ shall have the meaning set forth in section 1302(b) of the federal Affordable Care Act [42 U.S.C. §€‚18022(b)].

(7) €œGrandfathered health plan€ means any group health plan or health insurance coverage subject to 42 U.S.C. §€‚18011.

(8) €œGroup health insurance coverage€ means, in connection with a group health plan, health insurance coverage offered in connection with such plan.

(9) €œGroup health plan€ means an employee welfare benefit plan as defined in 29 U.S.C. §€‚1002(1) to the extent that the plan provides health benefits to employees or their dependents directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise.

(10) €œHealth benefits€ or €œcovered benefits€ means coverage or benefits for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or amounts paid for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body including coverage or benefits for transportation primarily for and essential thereto, and including medical services as defined in §€‚27-19-17.

(11) €œHealthcare facility€ means an institution providing healthcare services or a healthcare setting, including but not limited to: hospitals and other licensed inpatient centers; ambulatory surgical or treatment centers; skilled nursing centers; residential treatment centers; diagnostic, laboratory, and imaging centers; and rehabilitation and other therapeutic health settings.

(12) €œHealthcare professional€ means a physician or other healthcare practitioner licensed, accredited, or certified to perform specified healthcare services consistent with state law.

(13) €œHealthcare provider€ or €œprovider€ means a healthcare professional or a healthcare facility.

(14) €œHealthcare services€ means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease.

(15) €œHealth insurance carrier€ means a person, firm, corporation, or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner under this chapter, and includes a nonprofit medical service corporation. Such term does not include a group health plan.

althcare services€ means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease.

(15) €œHealth insurance carrier€ means a person, firm, corporation, or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner under this chapter, and includes a nonprofit medical service corporation. Such term does not include a group health plan.

(16) €œHealth plan€ or €œhealth benefit plan€ means health insurance coverage and a group health plan, including coverage provided through an association plan if it covers Rhode Island residents. Except to the extent specifically provided by the federal Affordable Care Act, the term €œhealth plan€ shall not include a group health plan to the extent state regulation of the health plan is preempted under section 514 of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. §€‚1144]. The term also shall not include:

(A)(i) Coverage only for accident, or disability income insurance, or any combination thereof;

(ii) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance;

(iii) Liability insurance, including general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance;

(iv) Workers€™ compensation or similar insurance;

(v) Automobile medical payment insurance;

(vi) Credit-only insurance;

(vii) Coverage for on-site medical clinics; and

(viii) Other similar insurance coverage, specified in federal regulations issued pursuant to federal Pub. L. No. 104-191, the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (€œHIPAA€), under which benefits for medical care are secondary or incidental to other insurance benefits.

(B) The following benefits if they are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance or are otherwise not an integral part of the plan:

(i) Limited scope dental or vision benefits;

(ii) Benefits for long-term care, nursing home care, home health care, community-based care, or any combination thereof; and

(iii) Other excepted benefits specified in federal regulations issued pursuant to federal Pub. L. No. 104-191 (€œHIPAA€).

(C) The following benefits if the benefits are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance; there is no coordination between the provision of the benefits and any exclusion of benefits under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor; and the benefits are paid with respect to an event without regard to whether benefits are provided with respect to such an event under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor:

(i) Coverage only for a specified disease or illness; and

(ii) Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance.

(D) The following if offered as a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance:

the benefits are paid with respect to an event without regard to whether benefits are provided with respect to such an event under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor:

(i) Coverage only for a specified disease or illness; and

(ii) Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance.

(D) The following if offered as a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance:

(i) Medicare supplement health insurance as defined under section 1882(g)(1) of the federal Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. §€‚1395ss];

(ii) Coverage supplemental to the coverage provided under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS)).

(iii) Similar supplemental coverage provided to coverage under a group health plan.

(17) €œLicensed midwife€ means any midwife licensed under §€‚23-13-9.

(18) €œMedical services€ means those professional services rendered by persons duly licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine, surgery, chiropractic, podiatry, and other professional services rendered by a licensed midwife, certified registered nurse practitioners, and psychiatric and mental health nurse clinical specialists, and appliances, drugs, medicines, supplies, and nursing care necessary in connection with the services, or the expense indemnity for the services, appliances, drugs, medicines, supplies, and care, as may be specified in any nonprofit medical service plan. Medical service shall not be construed to include hospital services.

(19) €œNonprofit medical service corporation€ means any corporation organized pursuant hereto for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and operating a nonprofit medical service plan.

(20) €œNonprofit medical service plan€ means a plan by which specified medical service is provided to subscribers to the plan by a nonprofit medical service corporation.

(21) €œOffice of the health insurance commissioner€ means the agency established under §€‚42-14.5-1.

(22) €œPsychiatric and mental health nurse clinical specialist€ is an expanded role utilizing independent knowledge and management of mental health and illnesses. The practice includes collaboration with other licensed healthcare professionals, including, but not limited to: psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, pharmacists, and nurses.

(23) €œRescission€ means a cancellation or discontinuance of coverage that has retroactive effect for reasons unrelated to timely payment of required premiums or contribution to costs of coverage.

(24) €œSubscribers€ means those persons or groups of persons who contract with a nonprofit medical service corporation for medical service pursuant to a nonprofit medical service plan.

(25) €œTherapist in marriage and family practice€ means a person who has been licensed pursuant to §€‚5-63.2-10.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.

§ 27-20-1. Definitions. · R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-20-1 | Frix