R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-2-11: Medical services for employees.

Each city and town is hereby authorized and empowered, through its respective legislative body, to enact ordinances for the purpose of providing hospital, medical, surgical, nursing, dental, and other health care and services for the protection of the health of any or all of the employees of the city or town and/or their dependents, and/or of any or all of the employees presently retired or who may retire and/or their dependents, as the legislative body may deem desirable, under any nonprofit plan or plans established, maintained, and operated by a nonprofit hospital service corporation, and/or by a nonprofit medical service corporation, organized under the laws of this state, and to appropriate from time to time, in the manner provided by law for appropriations and expenditures by the city or town, any sums necessary for the purpose of providing that care and service.