R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.14-31: Powers of the department of health.

The department may adopt rules, including measurable standards, as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this chapter. In doing so, the department shall review other departmental regulations that may have duplicative requirements, including change of effective control regulations and processes, determination of need requirements and application requirements under § 23-17.14-18, if applicable, and may streamline the process by eliminating duplicative requirements and providing for concurrent regulatory review and combined hearings to the maximum extent possible to promote efficiency and avoid duplication of effort and resources. If such duplicative requirements, including change of effective control regulations and processes, determination of need requirements and application requirements under § 23-17.14-18, and any other are utilized to streamline the process, then the department of health shall include the findings and decisions of those duplicative requirements within the written decision of this chapter.