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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Ruggerio, Pearson, DiMario, Miller, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 17.29

PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM

     23-17.29-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Primary Care Training Sites

Program".

     23-17.29-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases are construed as follows:

     (1) "Director" means the director of the department of health;

     (2) "Grant" means a sum awarded pursuant to a contract executed pursuant to § 23-17.29-

7(b);

     (3) "National Committee for Quality Assurance" or "NCQA" means the nonprofit

organization headquartered in the District of Columbia working to improve healthcare quality

through the administration of evidence-based standards, measures, programs and accreditation;

     (4) "Office" means the office of primary care training established pursuant to the provisions

of § 23-17.29-3;

     (5) "Patient-centered medical home" or "PCMH" means a model of healthcare that puts

patients at the forefront of care by providing team-based healthcare delivery led by a healthcare

provider to render comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients with a goal to obtain

maximal health outcomes;

     (6) "Primary care" means day-to-day healthcare provided by a healthcare professional.

Typically, the healthcare professional acts as the first contact and principal point of continuing care

for patients within a healthcare system, and coordinates other specialist care that the patient may

require; and

     (7) "Primary care site" means a site, location or medical practice that serves as the patient's

entry point into the healthcare system and acts as the continuing focal point for all required

healthcare services.

     23-17.29-3. Creation of office of primary care training -- Purpose.

     There is hereby authorized, created and established an office of primary care training

within the department of health. The purpose of the office shall be to:

     (1) Assist the director in developing an application and selection process for the awarding

     of grants pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

     (2) Provide oversight of grant recipients;

     (3) Coordinate meetings and related logistics to implement the provisions of this chapter;

     (4) Assist applicants for grants to comply with the process to include providing information

and assistance in processing of grant awards;

     (5) Recommend acceptance or rejection of proposed contracts and grants to be approved

by the director in accordance with the provisions of § 42-11-11;

     (6) Coordinate with the approval of the director, and with the director of administration,

the approval of all contracts negotiated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the provisions

of § 42-11-11;

     (7) Establish evidence-based standards to measure the success and performance of all

recipients of grants provided pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; and

     (8) Perform all other duties as assigned by the director.

     The office of primary care training shall be staffed by the person or persons assigned by

the director.

     23-17.29-4. Contracts.

     In compliance with the provisions of § 42-11-11, the director shall have the authority to

enter into contracts, subject to appropriation, for medical education to be conducted at primary care

practice sites. Any contract entered into shall not exceed ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) per

primary care site contract recipient, per calendar year and shall contain, at a minimum, the

following terms, conditions and provisions:

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     (1) The primary care site shall serve as an enhanced interdisciplinary clinical training site;

     (2) The primary care site shall have achieved and shall maintain NCQA PCMH distinction;

     (3) The primary care site shall provide integrated behavioral health services;

     (4) The primary care site shall provide an agreed curriculum of training for physicians,

nurse practitioners and physician assistants; and

     (5) Training shall include a minimum of five (5) hours didactic training and shall introduce

the trainees to the concept of PCMH and how the principles of the model have been operationalized

in the primary care delivery setting.

     23-17.29-5. Rules and regulations.

     The director shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this

chapter.

     23-17.29-6. Reports.

     The director shall report annually to the general assembly and the governor no later than

December 31 of each year on the status and progress of the primary care training sites program

established and administered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

     23-17.29-7. Severability.

     If any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the

provisions of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by a court

of competent jurisdiction, the reminder of the chapter, rule or regulation and the application of the

provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by its invalidity. The invalidity of

any section or sections or portion of any section or sections of this chapter shall not affect the

validity of the remainder of this chapter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM

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     This act would establish the primary care training sites program to provide training for

physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants within the department of health (DOH).

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2024.

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