When the cost of the services provided to the patient is being paid under the Rhode Island Medicaid program, any person who knowingly and willfully:
(1) Charges a patient, or anyone acting on behalf of a patient, money or other consideration at a rate in excess of the rates established by the state of Rhode Island; or
(2) Charges, solicits, accepts, or receives, in addition to any amount otherwise required to be paid under the Rhode Island Medicaid program, any gift, money, or donation as a precondition of the admission of a patient to a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate-care facility, or of the continued stay in a facility, shall be liable in a civil action to the patient or person acting on his or her behalf for an amount equal to three (3) times the amount of the charge.