(a) On and after January 1, 2008, a health insurer that contracts with a healthcare provider shall comply with the provisions of this chapter and shall include the provisions required by this chapter in the healthcare contract. A contract in existence prior to January 1, 2008, that is renewed or renews by its terms shall comply with the provisions of this chapter no later than December 31, 2008. (b) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) 'Healthcare contract' means a contract entered into or renewed between a health insurer and a healthcare provider for the delivery of healthcare services to others. (2) 'Healthcare provider' means a person licensed or certified in this state to practice medicine, pharmacy, chiropractic, nursing, physical therapy, podiatry, dentistry, optometry, occupational therapy, or other healing arts. (3) 'Health insurer' means every nonprofit medical service corporation, hospital service corporation, health maintenance organization, or other insurer offering and/or insuring health services; the term shall in addition include any entity defined as an insurer poration, hospital service corporation, health maintenance organization, or other insurer offering and/or insuring health services; the term shall in addition include any entity defined as an insurer under § 42-62-4 and any third-party administrator when interacting with healthcare providers and enrollees on behalf of such an insurer. History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 86, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 215, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 475, § 87.
Rhode Island Legal Code