Healthcare

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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died · Rhode Island · House May 14, 2026

HB 8177: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 988 CALL CENTER FUNDING AND OPERATIONS ACT

Establishes a fund and the operations necessary for a hotline for suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis management. Also instates a monthly surcharge on telephone lines to fund the 988 call center.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates telephone line surcharge to fund 988 suicide prevention hotline, advancing essential public health program funding via new tax mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline via phone surcharge, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Mental Health

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7937: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PREVENTING UNWARRANTED FACILITY FEES

HB 7937 prohibits hospitals and health systems from charging facility fees for healthcare services provided off-campus (outside the defined campus area or via telemedicine). It requires all off-campus locations to use unique identification numbers (NPIs) starting January 1, 2027, to ensure claims accurately reflect where services were delivered. The bill mandates that providers submit separate professional fee claims (using forms like CMS-1500) instead of institutional claims for off-site care, with reimbursement limited to professional fees only. This directly affects hospitals, health systems, and patients receiving care at off-campus locations like urgent care centers or telehealth services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents hospitals from charging hidden facility fees for off-campus/telemedicine care, improving patient access and billing transparency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Telehealth

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 8126: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

Establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program and help control health care costs, which would be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program" (RICHIP).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes universal single-payer health program (RICHIP) to expand coverage, control costs, and improve affordability - directly advancing healthcare access and funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes universal health coverage, a key worker benefit expanding employment-related health protections and reducing out-of-pocket costs for workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 11, 2026

SB 2452: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME

SB 2452 allocates $100,000 in the 2026-2027 budget to support mental health and emotional well-being for children in out-of-school time (OST) programs serving K-12 students across Rhode Island. The bill provides funds for staff training in trauma-informed practices, peer support groups, culturally responsive materials, and wellness-focused activities within community-based after-school and summer programs. Eligible programs must use funds flexibly to address local needs while prioritizing high-need communities and geographic diversity. The Rhode Island Afterschool Network will administer the grants through a competitive process and submit annual reports on program reach and outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100,000 from 2026-2027 budget to fund mental health services in after-school programs, directly advancing public service funding under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $100k for mental health support in K-12 after-school programs, enhancing student well-being and access to educational resources through trauma-informed training and culturally responsive materials.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $100k for mental health services in after-school programs, funding trauma-informed training and wellness activities to improve youth mental health access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

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