R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-6
Any person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, making any payment to a hospital patient or to his or her attorneys or heirs or legal representatives as compensation for the injury sustained, after the filing and mailing of the notice provided in § 9-3-5, without paying to the hospital the amount of its lien or so much thereof as can be satisfied out of the money due under any final judgment or compromise or settlement agreement after paying the amount of any prior liens, shall, for a period of one year from the date of payment to the patient or his or her heirs, attorneys, or legal representatives, be and remain liable to the hospital for the amount which the hospital was entitled to receive; and any such association, corporation, or other institution maintaining the hospital may, within such period, enforce its lien by a suit at law against the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, making any such payment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-6