(a)  A physician shall, at least ninety (90) days before closing his or her practice, give public notice as to the disposition of patients’ medical records in a newspaper with a statewide circulation, and shall notify the Rhode Island Medical Society and Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline of the location of the records. The public notice shall include the date of the physician’s retirement, and where and how patients may obtain their records both prior to and after closure of the physician’s practice.

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(b)  The heirs or estate of a deceased physician who had been practicing at the time of his or her death shall, within ninety (90) days of the physician’s death, give public notice as to the disposition of patients’ medical records in a newspaper with a statewide circulation, and shall notify the Rhode Island Medical Society and Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline of the location of the records.

(c)  Any physician closing his or her practice, or the heirs or estate of a deceased physician who had been practicing at the time of his or her death, shall dispose of the physician’s patient records in a location and manner so that the records are maintained and accessible to patients.

(d)  Any person or corporation or other legal entity receiving medical records of any retired physician or deceased physician who had been practicing at the time of his or her death shall comply with and be subject to the provisions of chapter 37.3 of this title, the Confidentiality of Health Care Information Act, and shall be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with § 23-1-48 and with the provisions of § 5-37-22(c) and (d), even though this person, corporation, or other legal entity is not a physician.