Rhode Island S0305

A medical practitioner, healthcare institution, or healthcare payer has the right not to participate in or pay for any medical procedure or service which violates their conscience.

"Healthcare payer" means any employer, health plan, health maintenance organization, insurance company, management services organization, or any other entity that pays for or arranges for the payment of any medical procedure or service

"Conscience" means the ethical, moral, or religious belief or principles held by any medical practitioner, healthcare institution, or healthcare payer. Conscience with respect to institutional entities or corporate bodies, as opposed to individual persons, is determined by reference to that entity or body’s governing documents, including, but not limited to, any published ethical, moral or religious guidelines or directives, mission statements, constitutions, articles of incorporation, bylaws, policies, or regulations.

"Discrimination" means any adverse action taken against, or any threat of adverse action communicated to, any medical practitioner, healthcare institution, or healthcare payer as a result of their decision to decline to participate in a medical procedure or service on the basis of conscience.