Healthcare

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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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 2455: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Mandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling, expanding patient access to cancer treatment support and preventing hair loss during chemotherapy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Rhode Island · House Jun 7, 2026

HB 7815: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AUTOLOGOUS OR DIRECT BLOOD DONATIONS

HB 7815 requires hospitals and blood banks to accommodate autologous (donating one's own blood for personal future medical procedures) and direct (donating blood specifically for another person's future procedure) blood donations when ordered by a healthcare provider. Hospitals must allow these donations if they perform blood donations, and blood banks must comply with provider orders unless health risks prevent donation. Blood banks may charge their standard fees for facilitating the donation and storing the blood until it's used. This bill directly affects patients needing future procedures, healthcare facilities, and blood banks, implementing clear rules for these donation types under the Department of Health's oversight.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospitals/blood banks to facilitate autologous/direct blood donations per provider orders, improving patient access to personalized blood services without restrictions.95% confidence

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signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 7538: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NOTIFICATION ACT

HB 7538 requires healthcare providers and facilities to inform patients when artificial intelligence (AI) is used to document their in-person or telehealth visits. It directly affects patients receiving care and all licensed healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, and dentists) and healthcare facilities covered under the law. The bill mandates clear notification about AI’s specific role in recording visit details, defining AI broadly to include technologies like natural language processing and machine learning. This law focuses solely on transparency about documentation practices, not on regulating AI's medical decision-making or other uses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates patient notification about AI use in care, protecting informed consent rights and transparency in healthcare documentation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates patient notification when AI documents healthcare visits, enhancing transparency and data privacy protections in AI use.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Artificial Intelligence

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7542: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Creates the position of dementia services coordinator within the department of health to coordinate the departments' approach to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dementia services coordinator within health department to improve Alzheimer's care coordination, advancing public health program management.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7927: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ELECTRONIC MONITORING IN NURSING AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES

Requires a nursing and assisted living facility to allow its residents to connect their electronic monitoring devices to its internet service without incurring any extra cost or charges.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves cost barriers for electronic monitoring devices in facilities, improving patient access to health monitoring tools.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill requires facilities to allow residents' electronic monitoring devices to connect to internet without extra cost, expanding internet access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 2652: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE CHILDREN'S CARDIAC SAFETY ACT

Establishes "The Children's Cardiac Safety Act", and provide for childhood cardiac screening based on modules that incorporate current best practices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes mandatory childhood cardiac screening under public health program, improving early detection access per best practices.90% confidence

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