2021 -- H 5787

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - EQUALITY IN ABORTION

COVERAGE

     Introduced By: Representatives Cassar, Ajello, Craven, Donovan, Cortvriend, McEntee,
Kislak, Knight, Carson, and Biah

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

     1. In enacting the Reproductive Privacy Act in 2019, the general assembly recognized the

importance of protecting a person's right to reproductive health care. However, exercising that right

can be illusory for people of limited financial means.

     2. Funding restrictions on abortion coverage interfere with an individual's personal

decision-making, with their health and well-being, and with their constitutionally protected right to

a safe and legal medical procedure.

     3. Restrictions on abortion coverage have a disproportionate impact on low-income

residents, immigrants, people of color, and young people who are already disadvantaged in their

access to the resources, information, and services necessary to prevent an unintended pregnancy or

to carry a health pregnancy to term.

     4. Numerous other states provide abortion coverage in their Medicaid programs and in their

state employee insurance plans.

     5. The purpose of this legislation is to promote equity in access to reproductive health care.

     SECTION 2. Section 36-12-2.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-12 entitled "Insurance

Benefits" is hereby repealed.

     36-12-2.1. Health insurance benefits -- Coverage for abortions excluded.

     (a) The state of Rhode Island shall not include in any health insurance contracts, plans, or

policies covering employees, any provision which shall provide coverage for induced abortions

(except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or where

the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest). This section shall be applicable to all contracts, plans

or policies of:

     (1) All health insurers subject to title 27;

     (2) All group and blanket health insurers subject to title 27;

     (3) All nonprofit hospital, medical, surgical, dental, and health service corporations;

     (4) All health maintenance organizations; and

     (5) Any provision of medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral benefits and of coverage

against accidental death or injury when the benefits or coverage are incidental to or part of other

insurance authorized by the statutes of this state.

     (b) Provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to benefits

provided under existing collective bargaining agreements entered into prior to June 30, 1982.

     (c) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to pertain to insurance coverage for

complications as the result of an abortion.

     SECTION 4. Section 42-12.3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12.3 entitled "Health

Care for Children and Pregnant Women" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-12.3-3. Medical assistance expansion for pregnant women/RIte Start.

     (a) The director of the department of human services is authorized to amend its title XIX

state plan pursuant to title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide Medicaid coverage and to

amend its title XXI state plan pursuant to Title XXI of the Social Security Act to provide medical

assistance coverage through expanded family income disregards for pregnant women persons

whose family income levels are between one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) and two hundred

fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level. The department is further authorized to

promulgate any regulations necessary and in accord with title XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.] and

title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397 et seq.] of the Social Security Act necessary in order to implement said

state plan amendment. The services provided shall be in accord with title XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396

et seq.] and title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397 et seq.] of the Social Security Act.

     (b) The director of the department of human services is authorized and directed to establish

a payor of last resort program to cover prenatal, delivery and postpartum care. The program shall

cover the cost of maternity care for any woman person who lacks health insurance coverage for

maternity care and who is not eligible for medical assistance under title XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et

seq.] and title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397 et seq.] of the Social Security Act including, but not limited

to, a noncitizen pregnant woman person lawfully admitted for permanent residence on or after

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August 22, 1996, without regard to the availability of federal financial participation, provided such

pregnant woman person satisfies all other eligibility requirements. The director shall promulgate

regulations to implement this program. Such regulations shall include specific eligibility criteria;

the scope of services to be covered; procedures for administration and service delivery; referrals

for non-covered services; outreach; and public education. Excluded services under this paragraph

will include, but not be limited to, induced abortion except in cases of rape or incest or to save the

life of the pregnant individual.

     (c) The department of human services may enter into cooperative agreements with the

department of health and/or other state agencies to provide services to individuals eligible for

services under subsections (a) and (b) above.

     (d) The following services shall be provided through the program:

     (1) Ante-partum and postpartum care;

     (2) Delivery;

     (3) Cesarean section;

     (4) Newborn hospital care;

     (5) Inpatient transportation from one hospital to another when authorized by a medical

provider;

     (6) Prescription medications and laboratory tests;

     (e) The department of human services shall provide enhanced services, as appropriate, to

pregnant women persons as defined in subsections (a) and (b), as well as to other pregnant women

persons eligible for medical assistance. These services shall include: care coordination, nutrition

and social service counseling, high risk obstetrical care, childbirth and parenting preparation

programs, smoking cessation programs, outpatient counseling for drug-alcohol use, interpreter

services, mental health services, and home visitation. The provision of enhanced services is subject

to available appropriations. In the event that appropriations are not adequate for the provision of

these services, the department has the authority to limit the amount, scope and duration of these

enhanced services.

     (f) The department of human services shall provide for extended family planning services

for up to twenty-four (24) months postpartum. These services shall be available to women persons

who have been determined eligible for RIte Start or for medical assistance under title XIX [42

U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.] or title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397 et seq.] of the Social Security Act.

     (g) Any person eligible for services under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or

otherwise eligible for medical assistance under title XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.] and title XXI

[42 U.S.C. § 1397 et seq.] of the Social Security Act, shall also be entitled to services for any

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termination of pregnancy permitted under § 23-4.13-2; provided, however, that no federal funds

shall be used to pay for such services, except as authorized under federal law.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - EQUALITY IN ABORTION

COVERAGE

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     This act would provide for abortion coverage in the Medicaid program and repeal the

abortion coverage exclusion for state employee insurance plans.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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