2022 -- S 2470 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Miller, Coyne, DiPalma, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-12.3-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12.3 entitled "Health

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

     42-12.3-8. Enhanced services for children.

     (a) The department executive office of health and human services (the "office") shall

develop a panel of enhanced services to be available as appropriate to RIte Track and medical

assistance recipients under the age of eighteen (18) twenty-six (26), who are considered at risk, as

defined by department executive office of health and human services regulations. These services

shall include, but not be limited to: care coordination, home visitation, nutrition counseling,

parenting skills education. These services may be performed through a fee for service, contractual

arrangement, or capitated rate as determined by the department executive office of health and

human services. 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 office

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

eligibility for enhanced services to children under the age of eight (8). Nothing in this section shall

prohibit the department executive office of health and human services from providing enhanced

services to a medical assistance recipient, within existing appropriations.

     (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) below, the department executive office of health

and human services shall also provide pediatric palliative care services to eligible children under

the age of nineteen (19) twenty-six (26) years who have a terminal illness, provided that such

services qualify for federal financial participation. These services shall be designed to achieve an

improved quality of life and to meet the physical and emotional needs experienced by the patient

during the course of the terminal illness and death. The services offered shall be determined by the

department office and may include, but are not limited to, consultations for pain and symptom

management, case management and assessment, social services, counseling, volunteer support

services, and respite services. The services shall be provided by licensed health care facilities that

meet the criteria established by regulations promulgated by the department office. The department

office is further authorized to establish limits on the services provided under this section.

     (c) The department office shall be the payor of last resort with respect to services provided

under subsection (b) above. With respect to children under the age of nineteen (19) twenty-six (26)

years who are covered by an individual or family health insurance plan or program that provides

payment in whole or in part for the type of pediatric palliative health care services listed in

subsection (b) above, the department office shall coordinate benefits with these primary payors,

and provided further that payments by the department office shall be in accordance with the

department's office's fee schedules.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

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     This act would raise the maximum age of eligibility for pediatric palliative services from

eighteen (18) to twenty-six (26) and would raise the eligibility for enhanced services from age eight

(8) to age twenty-six (26).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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