2024 -- H 7093

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LC003959

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE LIABILITY REFORM

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2024

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, The health and safety of the public are affected by ready access to quality

healthcare. Presently, the healthcare industry is experiencing unprecedented financial challenges

and historic staffing shortages; and

     WHEREAS, The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a total

physician shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 by 2034, which is comprised of a shortage of

between 17,800 and 48,000 primary care physicians, and 21,000 and 77,100 non-primary care

specialty physicians; and

     WHEREAS, The AAMC concluded that, in 2021, Rhode Island had the seventh lowest

rate of physicians retained from undergraduate medical education and fourth lowest rate of

retention of physicians retained from graduate medical education in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, In the midst of the many challenges limiting healthcare staffing and

retention in Rhode Island, professional liability exposure is rapidly increasing and adversely

impacting the healthcare environment in Rhode Island, eroding the interest of healthcare

professionals to practice their professions in Rhode Island and threatening the financial stability

of Rhode Island hospitals and health systems that provide vital healthcare infrastructure critical to

the health and safety of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

      RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; four (4) of whom shall be designees of the Hospital Association of Rhode

Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the President of the

Rhode Island Medical Society, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode

Island Association for Justice, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Defense

Counsel of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President and Chief Executive

Officer of Lifespan, or designee; one of whom shall be the President and Chief Executive Officer

of Care New England Health System, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the

Rhode Island Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode

Island Department of Business Regulations, Division of lnsurance, or designee; and one of whom

shall be the Rhode Island Attorney General, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a

member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided that, the majority leader or

the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the

member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the impact of

medical professional liability in Rhode Island on the medical workforce and the accessibility of

quality healthcare in Rhode Island and to provide recommendations for amendments and

additions to the Rhode Island General Laws to curtail the negative impact of significant

professional liability risk on the medical workforce and continued access to healthcare in this

State.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize, and shall select a Chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than January 1, 2025, and said commission shall expire on

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February 1, 2025.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE LIABILITY REFORM

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations and comments for healthcare

liability reform, and who would report back to the House no later than January 1, 2025, and

whose life would expire on February 1, 2025.

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