Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 7947: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS

Includes any costs paid by an enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by a third party when calculating an enrollee’s overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under a health plan as of January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures third-party payments count toward out-of-pocket maximums, reducing patient costs and improving prescription drug affordability under insurance plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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died · Rhode Island · House May 5, 2026

HB 7825: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Requires the secretary of the executive office of health and human services to monitor and mandate changes to the price-setting practices of pharmacy benefit managers to prohibit the spread pricing payment model.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits spread pricing by pharmacy benefit managers, aiming to lower drug costs and improve patient affordability in healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7624: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE LICENSING ACT

Requires annual inspections of those assisted living residences which contain units licensed to treat residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates annual inspections for dementia care facilities, enhancing safety standards and patient protection in healthcare settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7814: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- PRESCRIPTION BENEFIT MANAGER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Requires prescription benefit managers to approve a specific medication prescribed by a doctor when supported by a notarized medical necessity letter and requires that any denial be reviewed and documented by a licensed medical expert.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to approve doctor-prescribed meds with medical necessity documentation and mandates expert review of denials, directly improving patient access to medications and protecting prescribing rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 8171: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- FOOD-AS-MEDICINE PILOT PROGRAM

HB 8171 establishes a food-as-medicine pilot program to test whether providing medically tailored food assistance improves health outcomes for individuals with specific conditions like diabetes or hypertension. Administered by the state's executive office of health and human services, the program will include a task force to design and oversee the initiative. It directly affects participants in state health programs who may receive food support as part of their treatment plan, rather than traditional medical care. The bill creates a temporary, evidence-based approach to evaluate this model before potential expansion.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes food-as-medicine pilot program to improve health outcomes for conditions like diabetes/hypertension, directly advancing healthcare access through medically tailored nutrition support under state health department oversight.95% confidence

in committee · Rhode Island · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2461: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT

Prohibits dental insurers from refusing to honor directions to pay from insured, modifying benefits to be paid. Requires providers to accept payment by virtual credit card as unfair claims practices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from refusing patient-directed payments and mandates fair payment methods, protecting patient rights in dental insurance coverage.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7626: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND MATERNAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITY ACT OF 2026

Establishes the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026, to establish permanent statewide support for maternal health and to implement the maternal health strategic plan improving maternal health care and access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes permanent statewide maternal health support and implements a strategic plan to improve maternal health care access and services, directly advancing healthcare funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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died · Rhode Island · House May 14, 2026

HR 7706: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THE UNITED WAY OF RHODE ISLAND FOR THE 2-1-1 HUMAN SERVICES HOTLINE

This joint resolution appropriates $500,000 from state funds to the United Way of Rhode Island for operational support of its 2-1-1 human services hotline. The 2-1-1 system provides Rhode Islanders with free, 24/7 access to confidential assistance - covering housing, healthcare, food, disaster response, and other critical services - in nearly 200 languages. The funding directly supports the hotline’s existing operations, which handled over 190,000 requests in 2023-2024. It does not create new services or policy changes but ensures continued access to an established resource for residents seeking immediate help.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500k from state funds to fund 2-1-1 hotline operations, directly increasing public service funding under state budget.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds 2-1-1 hotline providing direct access to healthcare services, expanding patient access to critical health resources through existing infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds 2-1-1 hotline providing multilingual access to housing, healthcare, and immigrant services, directly supporting immigrant access to critical resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 7875: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT OF 2004 -- HEALTH INSURANCE OVERSIGHT

Charges the office of the health insurance commissioner to incorporate uncompensated care as a formula-driven numeric adjustment in the methodology used to establish any affordability standard or rate cap, applicable to hospital contracts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates incorporating uncompensated care into rate cap methodology, aiming to maintain affordability standards for hospital contracts and prevent cost-shifting to insured patients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 8135: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES -- EQUAL PAY FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Requires the state and private health insurers to reimburse claims for healthcare services provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants at the same amount as the reimbursement paid to a physician performing the service in the area served.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal reimbursement for NPs/PAs as physicians, expanding provider access and strengthening insurance coverage under healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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