Rep. Kathleen Fogarty

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that formally acknowledges the Taíno heritage and contributions of Taíno-descended residents in Rhode Island. It recognizes the cultural community's presence, history, and ongoing role in education and community engagement within the state. The resolution authorizes the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to Taíno community representatives and acknowledges the partnership with the Rhode Island American Indian Heritage Commission and the Federation of Aboriginal Nations of the Americas. This measure serves as a symbolic recognition rather than establishing new legal requirements or funding.

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

Maddy summaryHB 7628 requires health insurers in the state to develop plans providing adequate coverage and access to non-opioid pain management services, including non-opioid medications and non-drug alternatives, for policies delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2027. Insurers must submit these plans to the health insurance commissioner for approval, ensuring they do not unduly favor opioid coverage over other options. The plans must include educational materials for providers and be posted on insurer websites. This applies to all health insurance carriers offering prescription coverage, aiming to expand access to non-opioid pain treatment alternatives.

Maddy summaryHB 7607 prohibits payment networks from charging swipe fees (interchange and assessment fees) on state or local taxes and separately listed gratuities (tips) in electronic payment transactions. It requires payment networks to either deduct these amounts from swipe fee calculations at settlement or rebate merchants within 180 days if tax/tip details aren't captured at checkout. This directly affects merchants (businesses accepting card payments) and payment networks like Visa or Mastercard. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and includes penalties for violations, such as civil fines up to $1,000 per incident.

Amends the current law on health insurance coverage for fertility diagnostic care, standard fertility preservation services, and fertility treatment and requires coverage for any medically necessary ovulation-enhancing drugs and medical services.

Maddy summaryHB 7534 allows licensed pharmacists to prescribe and dispense FDA-approved tobacco cessation drugs under specific conditions. Pharmacists must complete state-approved education, verify patients meet criteria (age 18+, participation in a structured program, and nicotine safety education), and refer high-risk cases to primary care providers. The bill also mandates that health insurance plans cover these pharmacist-provided cessation services starting January 1, 2027, without requiring supervision or referrals from other providers. This policy directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking smoking cessation support, and health insurers by expanding access to tobacco cessation care through pharmacists' existing scope of practice.

Maddy summaryHB 7672 requires the Department of Transportation to install stop signs at all intersections where state highways cross bike paths. This law directly affects motor vehicle operators, who must come to a complete stop at these locations. The bill mandates that stop signs be placed and maintained at every such intersection on state highways, coordinated with the Traffic Safety Commission. It takes effect upon passage and does not specify additional safety measures beyond the stop requirement.

Provides that stores offering food product discounts must provide the same discounts to in-store customers that are offered to customers using electronic digital coupons.

Maddy summaryHB 7190 requires health insurers in Rhode Island to disclose how they use artificial intelligence (AI) to manage healthcare claims and coverage decisions. Insurers must report AI models, training data, performance metrics, and documentation of AI-influenced decisions to state regulators, and maintain records for five years. Crucially, the bill mandates that any AI-driven denial of medically necessary care must be reviewed and approved by a licensed healthcare provider with the same specialty as the ordering provider before finalization. This directly affects insurers, enrollees (patients), and healthcare providers by adding human oversight to AI decisions on coverage. The law aims to ensure transparency and accountability in AI use for non-administrative coverage decisions, such as denials of medically necessary treatments.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding House resolution (not a bill) introduced by the Rhode Island House of Representatives. It expresses concerns about Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which are private insurance options replacing traditional Medicare, noting issues like higher costs for patients during serious illness, narrower provider networks, and practices that allegedly prioritize insurer profits over patient care. The resolution urges federal lawmakers and agencies to take specific actions, including increasing transparency, auditing MA plans, regulating marketing, and prohibiting profit-driven practices like "cherry-picking" healthy enrollees. It does not create new laws but calls for administrative changes to protect Medicare beneficiaries.