§ 23-59-1 - Definitions.
SECTION 23-59-1
§ 23-59-1 Definitions. – As used in this chapter:
(1) "Continuing care" means providing or committing toprovide board, lodging, and nursing services to an individual, other than anindividual related by blood or marriage: (i) pursuant to an agreement effectivefor the life of the individual or for a period in excess of one year, includingmutually terminable contracts, and (ii) in consideration of the payment of anentrance fee and/or periodic charges. A contract shall be deemed to be oneoffering nursing services, irrespective of whether such services are providedunder the contract, if nursing services are offered to the resident enteringthe contract either at the facility in question or pursuant to arrangementspecifically offered to residents of the facility.
(2) "Department" means the Rhode Island state department ofhealth.
(3) "Entrance fee" means an initial or deferred transfer to aprovider of a sum of money or other property made or promised to be made inadvance or at some future time as full or partial consideration for acceptanceof a specified individual as a resident in a facility. A fee which is less thanthe sum of the regular periodic charges for one year of residency shall not beconsidered to be an entrance fee.
(4) "Facility" means the place or places in which a personundertakes to provide continuing care to an individual.
(5) "Provider" means any person, corporation, partnership, orother entity that provides or offers to provide continuing care to anyindividual in an existing or proposed facility in this state. Two or morerelated individuals, corporations, partnerships, or other entities may betreated as a single provider if they cooperate in offering services to theresidents of a facility.
(6) "Resident" means an individual entitled to receivecontinuing care in a facility.
(7) "Solicit" means all actions of a provider or theprovider's agent in seeking to have individuals enter into continuing careagreement by any means such as, but not limited to, personal, telephone, ormail communication or any other communication directed to and received by anindividual, and any advertisements in any media distributed or communicated byany means to individuals.