Rhode Island issues guidance for medical spas
In response to an increase in medical spas and IV therapy businesses, the Rhode Island Department of Health has released guidance on their licensure, ownership, standards of care, and standards of practice. The Rhode Island Department of Health "uncovered that many businesses in the medical spa and IV therapy space have been operating without proper healthcare facility licensure and/or have providers performing procedures that are not within their scope of practice or aligned with the proper standard of care." The guidance sets out requirements for healthcare facility license versus professional service corporation versus organized ambulatory care facility. Patients receiving services at a medical spa must be assessed by a licensed practitioner who prescribes IV fluids for a medical condition. The guidance stresses that IV medications must be prescribed by a licensed practitioner and the patient selection of medications from a menu (and an unlicensed practitioner's compounding of such mixes) is prohibited.