Rep. Megan Cotter

Reinstates, for all teachers and state employees who retired after July 1, 2012, their annual cost of living adjustment for retirement plan year 2026.

Creates "Harter's Law" to extend the civil statute of limitations, for injuries resulting from first degree child abuse, to thirty-five (35) years and cap civil damages recovery at five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

Establishes a state-run prescription drug purchasing pool, available for participation by nonstate public employers, private employers, and health insurance carriers, to maximize the value of drug discounts available to participants.

Maddy summaryHB 8401 strengthens the oversight of medical malpractice insurance for hospitals affiliated with accredited medical schools in Rhode Island. The bill requires these hospitals to obtain prior approval from the Department of Business Regulation before establishing or maintaining any self-insurance program for malpractice liability. To qualify, hospitals must demonstrate financial solvency, adequate reserves, and the ability to pay claims, with the department retaining the power to audit, examine, and revoke approval if standards are not met. Additionally, the legislation mandates that all forms of medical malpractice coverage, including self-insurance and captive arrangements, meet specific state-set limits and undergo annual renewal. Finally, the bill requires these entities to report claims, settlements, and judgments to relevant medical licensing boards within 30 days.

Establishes a procedure for a health insurer to reimburse a healthcare provider no less than sixty-five percent (65%) of each unpaid co-payment, co-insurance or deductible amount due, after reasonable collection efforts.

Requires that every insurer providing health coverage insurance provide every physician or physician group with a complete fee schedule seeing for the maximum allowable reimbursement for each covered service.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Primary Care Contracting Good Faith Act, which would require commercial insurers, managed care organizations, and Medicare Advantage plans to negotiate in good faith with primary care physician practices at least once every 24 months. The negotiations must explicitly consider factors such as operating costs, inflation, staff wages, malpractice premiums, and other overhead expenses. Additionally, the law prohibits payers from refusing to negotiate or renew contracts solely based on a practice's size, ownership structure, patient panel size, or Medicaid volume. The Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner would maintain a log of negotiation requests and issue annual reports, while complaints would be reviewed under existing authority. The act would take effect 90 days after passage.

Prohibits payers from requiring uncompensated referral coordination by primary care providers, require either elimination of referral prior authorizations, and prevent denial of lab coverage based solely on diagnostic coding differences.

Allows primary care practices to offer optional fees for non-covered services while requiring equal medical care for all patients and protecting access to medically necessary services regardless of ability to pay.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare entities and health plans to process provider credentialing applications within 30 calendar days for new applications and 10 business days for providers already credentialed with Medicare. It also mandates that minor demographic updates, such as address changes, be completed within 5 business days. The bill includes provisions for automated status updates every 15 days, written explanations for denials, and retroactive reimbursement if payers miss deadlines. Additionally, it establishes a conditional approval process for resident graduates and requires the health insurance commissioner to enforce timelines through quarterly reporting.