Rep. David Place

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 19-25, 2026, as Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in Rhode Island to honor the work of lab staff. It formally recognizes these professionals for their essential role in patient testing and healthcare and thanks them for protecting residents' health. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the Department of Health and several local health and education leaders. The measure does not change laws or budgets; it is a ceremonial acknowledgment.

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.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 8197 exempts the purchase of new or used bicycles and bicycle parts from state sales and use taxes. This directly affects consumers buying bikes or parts, as well as retailers selling them, by removing a tax burden on these items. The bill’s key mechanism is amending the tax code to specifically exclude bicycles and parts from taxable sales, simplifying the tax treatment for these goods. The bill was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Finance Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 8181 exempts waste management collection vehicles operating at Rhode Island's central landfill from tolls charged by the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority. This directly affects waste management companies that transport trash to the central landfill, removing a toll cost for their vehicles. The bill creates a specific exemption for these vehicles on turnpike and bridge tolls, streamlining their operations. It does not change general toll policies for other vehicles or alter the authority's toll collection system. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee following its introduction on February 27, 2026.

Directs the general assembly to fund ten full time equivalent positions in FY 2027 to support DEM's efforts in the areas of forestry and forestry projects.

Decriminalizes certain commercial sexual activity. It would also include human trafficking as a racketeering activity and would allow expungements of certain convictions in § 11-34.1 after one year.

Repeals the certificate of need process statutes which are used by the department of health to determine the need for new health care equipment and new institutional health services.