Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7276: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

HB 7276 prohibits insurance companies from requiring copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing for specific breast examinations. It directly affects individuals with health insurance who need diagnostic exams (to evaluate breast abnormalities) or supplemental exams (for high-risk screening based on medical history). The law requires all group and individual health insurance plans to cover these exams without out-of-pocket costs. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits cost-sharing for breast exams, mandating full insurance coverage to improve access to preventive care and protect patient rights without out-of-pocket costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 2033: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PROTECTIONS OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ACT

Provides that the prescription label for medication abortion prescription drugs may include the name of the dispensing healthcare practice instead of the name of the dispenser.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare providers by allowing practice name on abortion drug labels, supporting access to medication abortion services per its title and summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

died · Rhode Island · House May 7, 2026

HB 7058: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

HB 7058 exempts scalp hair prostheses and wigs necessary due to medical conditions from the state's sales tax. This directly affects individuals experiencing hair loss from medical issues, such as cancer treatment or alopecia, who purchase these items. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly include these prosthetic devices under existing medical exemptions, removing the sales tax burden. This is a concrete policy change that simplifies access to medically necessary hair replacement products without altering broader tax structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts medically necessary hair prostheses from sales tax, providing targeted tax relief to individuals with medical conditions, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts medically necessary hair prosthetics from sales tax, reducing financial barriers for patients with conditions like cancer treatment or alopecia.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 7273: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT

HB 7273 requires the state to join and implement the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact by July 1, 2026. This allows out-of-state doctors to more easily provide telemedicine services to patients within the state, expanding access to remote healthcare. The bill specifically enables patients to receive telemedicine care from licensed providers in other states through the compact. It also directs health agencies to create necessary rules for this process, directly affecting healthcare providers seeking multi-state practice and patients seeking remote medical care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands telemedicine access by enabling out-of-state providers, directly improving patient access to healthcare services per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth

Track

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 2386: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

SB 2386 requires health insurance plans in the state to cover specific pharmacist services starting January 1, 2027. It mandates coverage for services like medication therapy management, immunizations, and medication administration - services that would be covered if provided by physicians - without requiring supervision or referrals from other providers. Insurance plans must include pharmacists in their medical provider networks (distinct from pharmacy drug benefit networks) and cover these services even outside the network when no local provider is available. The law expires on January 1, 2031, unless extended by the legislature. This directly affects insurers, pharmacists, and patients seeking these covered services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for pharmacist services (medication therapy, immunizations) without referrals, expanding access and strengthening coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2383: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Requires health insurance policies to cover licensed certified lactation counselor services for childbearing families. It would also prohibit requiring supervision or duplicate payments for services and mandates annual reporting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for lactation counseling, expanding maternal health access and removing barriers like supervision requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Rhode Island · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 7246: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Disregards the limitations on trusts if the person has purchased long-term-care-insurance with a coverage payout amount equal to the average cost of long-term care in the State of Rhode Island.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves trust restrictions for long-term care insurance holders, expanding access to medical assistance under healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 2256: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Provides that licensed independent clinical social workers be able to enroll and bill Medicaid directly for covered services provided to adults with Medicaid fee-for-service coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables direct Medicaid billing for social workers, expanding access to mental health services under Medicaid fee-for-service coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 7274: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

HB 7274 allows physician assistants (PAs) to practice without needing a physician's direct supervision and permits them to receive Medicaid payments directly for services provided. The bill amends licensing rules to remove the requirement for written agreements with supervising physicians and clarifies that PAs can provide medical services within their scope without physician oversight. It also adds a new provision requiring Medicaid to pay PAs directly, rather than through a physician's billing, for services rendered. This affects PAs by expanding their practice autonomy and Medicaid patients by potentially increasing access to care from PAs. The changes take effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves supervision barriers for PAs, expands scope of practice, and mandates direct Medicaid payments - improving access and funding for healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medical Licensing

Track

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 2034: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

SB 2034 requires all health insurance plans sold in the state to cover at least one type of buprenorphine (used for opioid use disorder treatment) without any copayment or deductible for every 12-month plan year. It applies directly to insured individuals in the state who use these insurance plans, starting January 1, 2027. The bill mandates that plans provide this coverage for all forms of buprenorphine administration, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for this medication. Plans may still apply deductibles for health savings account (HSA) pairs, but early implementation before 2027 is permitted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for buprenorphine without copay/deductible, improving access to opioid use disorder treatment per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Substance Abuse

Track