Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 2606: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES -- THE POWERS AND SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES

Expands the DCYF powers by overseeing and administer comprehensive behavioral health services for children with serious emotional disturbances and children with developmental or functional disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands DCYF's role in providing behavioral health services for children with disabilities, directly advancing mental health care access under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 2753: AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- RHODE ISLAND VETERANS HOME STAFFING SUPPORT ACT OF 2026

SB 2753, the Rhode Island Veterans Home Staffing Support Act of 2026, establishes a state funding program to address staffing needs at Rhode Island Veterans Homes. The bill directly affects these state-operated facilities by providing dedicated financial support to maintain adequate staffing levels. Key provisions require the state to allocate specific funds for hiring and retaining personnel at the veterans homes. This act aims to improve operational stability and care quality at these facilities through targeted state financial assistance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates state funds for staffing at veterans homes (healthcare facilities) to improve care quality and operational stability, directly funding healthcare services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill allocates state funds for hiring/retaining staff at veterans homes, directly supporting employment stability and staffing needs.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds staffing at veterans homes to improve care quality and operational stability per bill's dedicated funding provisions95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 7935: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

Increases continuing education requirements for physician assistants, removes restrictions of PAs to render charitable care and aid for school and youth programs or cardiac arrest and removes restrictive covenants as to ownership by a PA.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves restrictions on PAs providing charitable care in schools/youth programs and cardiac arrest aid, expanding access to healthcare services.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7932: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Requires approval by the Rhode Island commission the deaf and hard of hearing before any reduction in American Sign Language interpreter services in hospitals and other public service facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents reduction of ASL interpreter services in hospitals, protecting access for deaf/hard of hearing patients in healthcare facilities.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 2466: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE -- FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES

Provides for fair pharmacy reimbursement from a pharmacy benefit manager, and also provides anti-discrimination prohibitions in regard to non-affiliated pharmacies or pharmacists.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFair reimbursement for pharmacies and anti-discrimination protections improve access to medication services and promote competition in pharmacy care, aligning with healthcare access indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 7950: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT OF 2004 -- HEALTH INSURANCE OVERSIGHT

HB 7950 regulates prescription drug price increases in Rhode Island by imposing a penalty on manufacturers who raise prices without new clinical evidence. It targets "identified drugs" with "unsupported price increases" as determined by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). Manufacturers face an 80% penalty on the revenue difference between actual sales and what they would have earned at the prior year's wholesale cost (adjusted for inflation), but only if their annual sales exceed $250,000 in the state. The penalty applies for two years after a drug appears on ICER's annual report of unsupported increases. This directly affects drug manufacturers selling in Rhode Island who implement such price hikes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates drug price increases without clinical evidence, imposing penalties to improve affordability and patient access to medications, aligning with healthcare access protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 7625: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Commencing January 1, 2027, mandates insurers provide health insurance coverage without cost-share requirements for vaccinations recommended by the DOH and mandates the coverage for the medical assistance program and managed care organizations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost vaccination coverage for insurers and public programs, expanding access to preventive care without cost barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 7837: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS

HB 7837 allows dental hygienists working in public-health settings - such as schools, nursing homes, and community health centers - to receive reimbursement from insurance companies or Medicare, not just Medicaid. Currently, these hygienists could only be paid by Medicaid or state healthcare programs, but the bill removes that restriction. This change expands payment options for preventive dental services provided in community settings without altering the requirement for a written agreement with a dentist or patient consent forms. The bill directly affects dental hygienists and public-health facilities by enabling broader insurance coverage for their services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands reimbursement for dental hygienists in public health settings, increasing access to preventive care through broader insurance/Medicare coverage without restricting Medicaid payments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7931: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Amends current law on interpreter services to mandate hospitals provide a certified, interpreter for every non-English speaker, unless there is no national or state certification for a specific language so that a qualified interpreter may be used.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates certified interpreters for non-English speakers in hospitals, improving patient access and communication, aligning with healthcare access protections.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 7539: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- BENEFIT DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION REVIEW ACT

Limits the use by insurers of step therapy, a protocol that establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs for a specified medical condition are covered by an insurer, by allowing medical providers to request step therapy exceptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLimits insurer step therapy restrictions, enabling provider exceptions for patient access to necessary medications, aligning with improved patient access indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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