§ 5-37-16.2. Exceptions to licensure requirement.
(a) A physician who is licensed to practice medicine in another state or states, but not
in this state, and who is in good standing in such state or states, may exercise the
privilege to practice medicine for a patient located in this state under the following
circumstances only:
(1) The physician is employed by a branch of the United States military, Department of
Defense, Department of Veterans' Affairs Division of Veterans' Health Administration,
or similar federal entity.
(2) The physician is present in the state on a singular occasion as a member of an air
ambulance treatment team or organ harvesting team.
(3) The physician, whether or not physically present in this state, is being consulted
on a singular occasion by a physician licensed in this state, or is providing teaching
assistance in a medical capacity, for a period not to exceed seven (7) days. Under
no circumstance may a physician who is not present in this state provide consultation
to a patient in this state who does not have a physician-patient relationship with
that physician unless that patient is in the physical presence of a physician licensed
in this state.
(4) The physician is present in the state for a period not to exceed seven (7) days as
a volunteer physician serving in a noncompensated role for a charitable function.
(5) The physician is present in this state while providing medical services to a sports
team incorporated in the United States or another country provided that:
(i) The physician has a written agreement with that sports team to provide care to team
members, coaching staff, and families traveling with the team for a specific sporting
event or preseason training camp occurring in this state.
(ii) The physician may not provide care or consultation to any person residing in this
state other than those enumerated in subsection (a) or under the conditions permitted
in subsection (b).
(iii) The physician shall be permitted to provide care and consultation to those in subsection
(a) for no longer than seven (7) consecutive days per sporting event.
(iv) The physician is not authorized to practice at a healthcare facility or clinic, acute-care
facility, or urgent-care center; but nothing herein shall prevent the physician from
accompanying a person enumerated in subsection (a) to such a facility or from providing
consultation to a physician licensed in Rhode Island in regard to such person.
(v) If the physician is licensed in another country, he or she must obtain prior written
permission from the director, or his or her designee, to be permitted to provide care
and consultation to those in subsection (a).
(b) If a physician licensed in this state obtains prior written permission from the director,
or his or her designee, the physician who is not licensed in this state but is practicing
under subsections (a)(3) — (a)(5), may be permitted to extend his or her authorization
to practice medicine for more than seven (7) consecutive days if the requesting physician
shows good cause for the extension, but for no more than a total of thirty (30) days
in any one year.
(c) A physician practicing under subsection (a)(3) or (a)(4) shall inform the board, in
writing, of his or her intent to practice prior to, or as soon as practicable, but
no later than seven (7) days after, the consultation.
(d) The director shall send by certified mail to a physician not licensed in this state
a written order that revokes the privilege to practice medicine under this section
if the director finds good cause to do so. If no current address can be determined,
such order may be sent by regular mail to the physician's last known address.
(e) Any person who is found to have violated any provisions of this section shall be subject
to § 5-37-12 regarding the unauthorized practice of medicine.