R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-41-28
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this chapter, except for §§ 27-41-5, 27-41-26, 27-41-35, and 27-41-37 which shall apply to all licensed health maintenance organizations including health maintenance organizations licensed pursuant to chapter 17 of title 23, nothing contained in this chapter shall apply to those health maintenance organizations licensed pursuant to chapter 17 of title 23 which were actively engaged in the provision of or making available to enrolled participants health care services prior to January 1, 1982; provided, that this exemption shall not under any circumstances have effect beyond July 1, 1994, and that on and after July 1, 1991, § 27-41-18 shall also apply to all licensed health maintenance organizations licensed pursuant to chapter 17 of title 23. Any health maintenance organization which was actively engaged in the provision of or making available to enrolled participants health care services prior to January 1, 1982, including a health maintenance organization which experiences a "change in owner" or "change in operator" as defined in § 23-17-2(5) and (4), respectively, may, at its discretion, continue to be licensed under the requirements and provisions of chapter 17 of title 23 until July 1, 1994, or under the requirements and provisions of this chapter. That health maintenance organization shall be deemed to be licensed under the requirements and the provisions of this chapter upon submission of materials required under § 27-41-3(b)(1), (2), (3), (4) and (11) sufficient and satisfactory to the director. Until July 1, 1998, the directors shall waive, reduce, or alter the requirements of §§ 27-41-4 and 27-41-13 for licensure for this defined class of health maintenance organizations unless after notice and hearing he or she finds that reasonable progress is not being made toward meeting the requirements of those sections. After July 1, 1998 the director may waive, reduce, or alter the requirements of §§ 27-41-4 and 27-41-13 for licensure for this defined class of health maintenance organizations if the licensee demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that it is making satisfactory progress toward compliance with the requirements of those sections.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-41-28