Latest news with #R.I.DepartmentofHealth
Boston Globe
06-05-2025
- Boston Globe
R.I. therapist surrenders license over ‘non-professional relationship' with underage client
The client was a 'student under the age of 18' who resided at the career training and education facility, the order states. Advertisement R.I. Department of Health and the state Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists received complaints alleging Vescera was involved in the relationship with the student, according to the order. Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up 'In the course of RIDOH's investigation into the allegations, [Vescera] submitted false and misleading statements to RIDOH in an effort to conceal her non-professional relationship … and to thwart RIDOH's investigation,' the document states. In August 2023, RIDOH found the allegations against Vescera were 'reliable' and The department notified Vescera in March that a hearing would be held to determine whether her license 'should be revoked or otherwise disciplined,' as she was charged with unprofessional conduct as a licensed mental health counselor 'based on violations' of state law and the National Board of Certified Counselors 'Code of Ethics,' the order states. Advertisement Under the terms of the order, Vescera agreed to voluntarily and permanently surrender her license and to fulfill 'any continuing obligations she may have with respect to the handling of client records and the appropriate transfer of client records.' Vescera could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. According to court records, Vescera does not face any criminal charges. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced in one of RI's largest fentanyl busts
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A Cranston man will spend two decades in federal prison following one of Rhode Island's largest fentanyl seizures, according to acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Jorge Pimentel, 36, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years behind bars followed by five years of supervised release for running what authorities described as a high-output drug lab and stash house. Prosecutors called Pimentel a 'well-established, large-scale fentanyl trafficker' who brokered the sale of approximately 34,000 counterfeit pills between May and September 2023, earning roughly $37,000. BACKGROUND: Cranston man pleads guilty to distributing 34K fentanyl-laced pills Pimentel was arrested on Sept. 29, 2023, after investigators searched a storage unit in Pawtucket, discovering more than 16 kilograms of fentanyl total—enough to kill the entire population of Rhode Island eight times over, based on data from the DEA and R.I. Department of Health. According to court documents, Pimentel 'produced his poison' inside the unit using blenders, sifters, and Red Solo cups to mix the drugs and press them into pills resembling pharmaceutical-grade Percocet or 'M-30s.' During the search, investigators uncovered more than 19,000 fentanyl-lace pills, nearly 9 kilograms of fentanyl powder, and various trafficking supplies—including respirator masks, 28,000 grams of cutting agent, and a high-speed industrial pill press valued at more than $10,000. WATCH | The Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyl's Grip Combined with the cutting agents found at the scene, prosecutors said Pimentel had the capacity to produce more than 633,000 fake pills. He sold the pills in bulk to other dealers for about $1.50 apiece, generating a 'significant profit,' according to court documents. Pimentel also employed a 'runner' to deliver the pills and clean the storage unit after production. His criminal history includes prior charges related to forgery, counterfeiting, and filing false statements connected to his work at his sister's now-shuttered Providence autobody shop. Despite denying drug or alcohol issues in a 2023 pretrial interview, court documents state Pimentel later claimed he used fentanyl and alcohol daily up until his arrest. In December, Pimentel pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. No plea agreement was filed in the case. NEXT: Pawtucket man gets 40 years for causing woman's deadly overdose Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill seeks to allow nurses to keep performing cosmetic procedures
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Treatments like injectables, fillers and laser seem to be all the rage these days. Now, new legislation wants to codify who can perform them. State Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski, D-Cranston, has introduced the Medical Aesthetics Practices Safety Act, which would mandate all cosmetic procedures in the state be performed by a physician, PA, APRN, or delegated to a qualified non-physician. It proposes to have non-PA or non-APRN be allowed to practice under the supervision of a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse. 'Here in Rhode Island, recent guidelines from the Department of Health suggests that nurses should not be participating in those practices, and they should be left only to physicians,' Baginski told 12 News. 'The legislation I've submitted would ensure that nurses who have been doing these things can continue doing so in the future.' In July 2024, the R.I. Department of Health released guidelines suggesting that only physicians and physician assistants can perform most cosmetic procedures, with certified nurse practitioners being allowed to do some. The guidelines leave out registered nurses and licensed nurse practitioners who often work in med spas performing cosmetic procedures. The Rhode Island Dermatology Society says it helped form the guidelines issued by the Health Department. The group strongly opposes the proposed legislation. 'Unfortunately, Bill H5351 leaves much open to interpretation, including what is considered the practice of surgery by the American Medical Association and should only be performed by physicians (whose scope of practice includes such training),' they said in a statement. 'This would include several lasers such as resurfacing or ablative lasers. These cosmetic procedures are medical procedures and should be given the same level of appreciation and regulation.' Sarah Beatrice, a nurse practitioner who works at Viva Medspa & Wellness in Cranston, supports the bill. 'Our physicians or nurse practitioners rely on these aestheticians and registered nurses to do this work. So, if we shut down, then we are going to have to go to neighboring states to be in employed,' Beatrice said. 'We have neighboring states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire that allow these services to be provided by these professionals.' According to Beatrice, there are more than 120 med spas in Rhode Island, and without the help of RN's and NP's, many would go out of business. 'It's a lot of revenue that's going to be lost, not only by our state, but our patients are not going to be able to make their choices of who they want to see as a provider,' Beatrice explained. 'They're going to follow us. Now you're going to deal with unemployment that's really going to affect our state too.' The House Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on the bill on Tuesday. They recommended it be held for further study. In a letter to the committee, the R.I. Department of Health wrote that 'cosmetic procedures are still medical procedures, and the standard of care for cosmetic procedures should not be less stringent or handled differently than a non-cosmetic procedure.' 'Allowing unlicensed people with only 20 hours of training (versus three to six years of training for dermatologists and plastic surgeons) to perform these procedures is unsafe,' the letter continues. Baginski said these nurses are highly trained and licensed by the state, so they should be able to continue practicing aesthetic medicine. 'All good actors want to see the bad ones rooted out of the industry,' Baginski told 12 News. 'I don't think [the Health Department] is trying to restrict anyone from this practice. I think they're redefining the space and redefining who's qualified to participate. I just happen to be of the opinion that registered nurses should apply.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Overdose spike alert issued for Smithfield
SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) — The R.I. Department of Health issued an overdose spike alert Thursday for Smithfield due to an increase in drug overdoses. Between the dates of Feb. 20-26, six non-fatal opioid overdoses were reported in the town, according to health officials. 'The drug supply continues to contribute to this public health crisis,' the notice said. 'Illicit fentanyl continues to dominate the drug supply and has been detected in substances such as cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit pills.' There are several ways to stay informed and help reduce overdose deaths, including signing up for alerts, learning the signs of an overdose, ordering free naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and learning about safer drug use resources. Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call, text or chat 988BH Link: Rhode Islanders can call 401-414-LINK (5465)Kids' Link RI: Parents can call 1-855-543-5465 Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
McKee proposal could help RI retain more primary care providers
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — Gov. Dan McKee wants to invest more money in a state program that helps physicians pay off their student loan debt. The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program offers loan repayment assistance for licensed primary care providers, dental workers and mental health clinicians who agree to practice in a medically underserved area of the state for at least two years. The governor's office said data from 2013 to 2023 showed about 91% of participants have continued to practice in Rhode Island after their two-year obligation was up. 'We know that there's a primary care doctor issue that we need to start paying attention to, close attention to,' McKee told Target 12. McKee wants to expand the program in an effort to meet goals in the state's 2030 Plan, which has not yet been finalized. He highlighted his proposal on Wednesday at an event at Blackstone Valley Community Health Center in Pawtucket, one of about 50 approved sites that benefit from the program. Lawmakers are currently holding hearings to review the governor's budget proposal. R.I. Department of Health Director Dr. Jerome Larkin said the program can help to address an ongoing shortage of primary care providers. 'We know there's a primary care physician shortage across the country. Rhode Island is no different,' Larkin said. RELATED: Hundreds more physicians needed to address RI primary care shortage, experts say Researchers from Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School examined the state's All-Payer Claims Database (RI APCD), which collects health care claims data from a variety of payer sources. They estimated there are nearly 700 primary care providers for Rhode Island's population of about 1.1 million — or roughly one clinician for every 1,700 people. A study published last year in the Rhode Island Medical Journal found that out of 106 medical students who did their residencies in primary care during the 2022-23 academic year, just 15 planned to practice in Rhode Island after graduating. McKee's proposal calls for using $200,000 in general revenue to bolster the program, which would be matched by $200,000 in federal funds. 'This can really go a long way towards building that foundational capacity that we need in primary care,' Larkin added. The governor's office said if approved, it would be the first time general revenue was used to beef up the program in almost two decades. 'It's personal for me': RI lawmakers, health care advocates share legislative priorities Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
