2024 -- S 3160

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LC006268

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICES (EOHHS) TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF ESTABLISHING

A DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALS WITHIN THE PREVIEW OF THE SECRETARIAT

     

     Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2024

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, In 2022, the Special Legislative Commission to Review and Make

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Recommendations Regarding the Efficient and Effective Administration of Health and Human

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Services Programs in the State of Rhode Island submitted its findings about how best to improve

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access and delivery to those receiving a myriad of services from within the EOHHS departments;

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and

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     WHEREAS, The Commission met nine times to study EOHHS and its sub-agencies.

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These meetings included EOHHS history, EOHHS structure, RI’s Medicaid program, behavioral

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health services, developmental disability services, state hospitals, and health and human services

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state agency structures in other states; and

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     WHEREAS, The Commission’s second recommendation was to divest hospitals from the

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Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals and create a

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separate Department of Hospitals, to include both campuses of Eleanor Slater Hospital, the Rhode

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Island Veterans Home, and the forthcoming Rhode Island Psychiatric Hospital. This change in

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the department structure would allow those state facilities to be led by those with specialized

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hospital skills; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests

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the Executive Office of Health and Human Services undertake a review and analysis on the

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establishment of a Department of Hospitals; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further requests that EOHHS report its findings

 

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and recommendations to the Senate on or before September 1, 2024; 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 a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health

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and Human Services.

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LC006268

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