Ends transaction fees for school lunches in all districts. This act requires at least one no-fee payment method for school lunches and a full disclosure whether fees will be charged by a payment platform.
Maddy summarySB 2032 prohibits health insurance plans in Rhode Island from requiring patients to pay copays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic or supplemental breast examinations. It specifically covers exams used to evaluate abnormalities (diagnostic) or screen for breast cancer in high-risk individuals (supplemental), based on medical history or risk factors. The law applies to all group and individual health insurance plans, including those offered by health maintenance organizations and nonprofit health corporations. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, ensuring these exams are fully covered without cost-sharing for enrollees.
Expands the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run to maintain on site a functional AED while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution creates a fifteen-member special legislative commission to study how Rhode Island can better educate and retain primary care providers like doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. The commission will include representatives from medical schools, professional associations, community health centers, and local nonprofits, and it will produce annual reports on access to care and the state's medical education resources. Members serve without pay and will submit their findings and recommendations directly to the President of the Senate. The bill addresses the current shortage of primary care providers in the state by establishing a formal group to investigate workforce challenges and propose solutions.
Provides for paid leave for a state employee who donates an organ and duration of the leave is dependent on the type of donation and notice should be provided to the employer at least thirty (30) days prior to the leave.
Maddy summarySB 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.
Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.
Requires insurers to develop plans for coverage and access to nonnarcotic, nonopioid and nonmedication pain management for moderate to severe pain. It further restricts utilization review for nonopioid drugs.
Transfers responsibility for implementation of services for persons with traumatic brain injuries from the director of the department of human services to the EOHHS.
Requires the state, and private insurers that cover prescription hormone therapy, to dispense twelve (12) months’ worth of the prescription as a single prescription.
