2022 -- H 7882

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LC004439

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICES (EOHHS) TO CREATE A COVID-19 SURGE PLAN FOR HANDLING THE

INCREASING NEED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUBSTANCE USE

DISORDER TREATMENTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Felix, McGaw, Shanley, Cassar, Donovan,
Ajello, Batista, Ranglin-Vassell, and Kislak

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2022

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

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     WHEREAS, The stated mission of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services

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(EOHHS) is to ensure access to high quality and cost effective services that foster the health,

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safety, and independence of all Rhode Islanders; and

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     WHEREAS, In October of 2020, the Rhode Island Department of Health's (RIDOH)

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Office of State Medical Examiners (OSME) released data indicating a sharp increase in

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accidental drug overdose deaths during the first seven months of 2020 with an increase of 26

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percent in all fatal drug overdoses, a 33 percent increase in opioid-involved fatal overdoses, and

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more drug overdoses occurring in May of 2021 than in any other month since the tracking of this

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data began. This trend progressed and intensified through 2021, as the months of COVID-19

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continued; and

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     WHEREAS, According to the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental

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Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), as of November of 2020, there had been a 15 to 20 percent

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increase in calls from people seeking "some form of help, whether they're seeking professional

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help, or they're just seeking peers to talk to, or they just want someone to talk to because they are

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anxious and stressed"; and

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     WHEREAS, The stressors and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated

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mental health conditions, and barriers to accessing necessary care by those in need of care or

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already using these services, have left many Rhode Islanders without the treatments and services

 

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they desperately need; and

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     WHEREAS, The Director of the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Hasbro

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Children's Hospital, has stated that he has witnessed "a massive pandemic of mentally ill

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adolescents," many of them admitted to Hasbro Children's Hospital; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, many of our country's and State's veterans are struggling with

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their mental health due to increasing economic, social and financial impacts from the COVID-19

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pandemic and require specific mental health support during the country's recovery; and

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     WHEREAS, Access to mental health support is essential in sustaining long-term recovery

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for Rhode Islanders negatively impacted and coping with the numerous mental health challenges

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of the COVID-19 crisis; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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respectfully requests EOHHS to create a COVID-19 surge plan for handling the increasing need

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for behavioral health services and substance use disorder treatments; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests EOHHS to submit the surge plan to the

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House on or before June 30, 2022; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island and

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Womazetta Jones, Secretary, Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

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LC004439

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