Section 230-RICR-20-30-6.9 - Provider Complaint ProcessA. A health care provider who alleges a violation of this Part by a subject entity may file a complaint with this Office using the complaint form promulgated by OHIC in a Bulletin issued for that purpose. This Office will not accept written complaints from health care providers unless the procedures established by § 6.9(B) of this Part have been followed.B. As a prerequisite to filing a complaint with this Office, a health care provider must file the complaint form (promulgated by OHIC in a Bulletin issued for that purpose) directly with the subject entity that is alleged to have violated this Part. The complaint must be mailed to the subject entity by certified or registered mail, with a return receipt requested, or by any other method of delivery that provides a written proof of delivery to the subject entity. If the complaint is not resolved within forty-five days of receipt by the subject entity, the health care provider may file with this Office a copy of the complaint, along with written proof of delivery of the complaint to the subject entity and any written response from the subject entity. The copy of the complaint, the proof of delivery and the written response from the subject entity should be submitted to the address specified in § 6.8 of this Part.C. The requirements of this § 6.9 of this Part do not apply to complaints by policyholders. Such complaints may be filed directly with this Office.D. Examples 1. Example 1. A Rhode Island physician submitted the complaint form (promulgated by OHIC in a Bulletin issued for that purpose) to a subject entity by certified mail with return receipt requested. The subject entity signed the return receipt for the complaint on May 1st. As of June 15th, the subject entity had not responded to the physician. The physician may thereafter submit a copy of the complaint and a copy of the return receipt to this Office.2. Example 2. A Rhode Island physician submits the complaint form (promulgated by OHIC in a Bulletin issued for that purpose) directly to this Office without first submitting the complaint to the subject entity. Because the complaint was not first submitted to the subject entity, this Office will return the complaint to the physician without taking any action on the complaint. 230 R.I. Code R. 230-RICR-20-30-6.9