The Rhode Island Senate unveiled a package Tuesday of 25 bills meant to boost healthcare access and affordability in the state.
A variety of related challenges, ranging from a shortage of primary care doctors to the uncertain future of some local hospitals, have gained growing attention in recent years.
The Senate legislation responds by targeting four main areas: consumer protection, containing costs, boosting availability of providers and enhancing financial stability.
During a Statehouse news conference, Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson (D-Cumberland) cautioned that the bills are not a cure-all for Rhode Island’s health-related needs.
“The really important part here is that each of these individually may not move the needle by themselves,” Pearson said. “There is no silver bullet in this, but collectively what this package attempts to do is move the entire healthcare system forward in a positive direction, accomplish these items and allow us to continue going down the path a bit more further.”
One measure would try to address concerns about low rates for some providers by requiring the Office of Health Insurance Commission to have a dual mandate, focusing on both premiums and providers rates, instead of solely the latter.
Another bill calls for using unspent federal COVID money in a one-time effort to cut medical debt for low-income people.
A different piece of legislation would try to chip away at a shortage of providers by offering a certain amount of scholarships, up to four years, for doctors and nurses who agree to work in Rhode Island for eight years after completing their education. It would be initially funded with $3.5 million, an amount far smaller than similar programs in some other states.
Another measure would require hospitals to screen patients for eligibility for assistance under such programs as Medicaid and Medicare.
A different bill would require insurance to pay for transportation for emergency services by ambulance or rescue.
Senate President Dominick Ruggerio started the rollout of the bills by saying Rhode Island’s healthcare system is in critical need of help.
“For far too many people in our state, care is far too expensive and too difficult to get,” he said.
The bills must clear legislative committees and passage in each chamber of the legislature, along with the passage of companion bills, to head to the desk of Gov. Dan McKee.