2024 -- S 3165

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LC006260

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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

CREATING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF

RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING AND

RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND ESTABLISHING A STATE MEDICAL

SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Ruggerio, Lauria, DiMario, Pearson, Felag, F.
Lombardi, Gu, de la Cruz, and Britto

     Date Introduced: June 13, 2024

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Nationally the demand for primary care physicians continues to increase,

however, less than one-third of the national physician workforce represents individuals in the

primary care sector; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is experiencing a net loss of primary care clinicians and

anticipates this shortage to worsen in the years ahead; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island residents are struggling to find primary care physicians

resulting in the use of community health centers and urgent care facilities to meet their medical

needs; and

     WHEREAS, Increased utilization of these health care facilities strains resources and

creates additional pressure on our healthcare system; and

     WHEREAS, While Rhode Island is home to a private medical school, no new medical

schools have been established in the State since 1972; and

      WHEREAS, Rhode Island struggles to retain primary care physicians upon graduation

and offsets these loses with physicians moving into the State; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island must look toward the creation of a college of medicine to train

and retain the next generation of primary care physicians; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of twenty-one (21) members: all of whom shall be appointed by the President of the

Senate.

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

Island’s healthcare workforce related to educating and retaining primary care physicians and

establishing a state medical school at the University of Rhode Island.

     By August 1, 2024, upon passage of the resolution, the members of the commission shall

be appointed and shall meet at the call of the Senate President and organize and the Senate

President shall appoint a chair, and a co-chair, who shall be the President of the University of

Rhode Island, or designee.

     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 Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop and submit its findings and

recommendations to the Senate no later than by January 2, 2026, and said commission shall

expire on January 31, 2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF

RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING AND

RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND ESTABLISHING A STATE MEDICAL

SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

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     This resolution would create a 21-member commission to study RI’s healthcare

workforce related to educating and retaining primary care physicians and establishing a state

medical school at URI, and would report back by January 2, 2026, and would expire January 31,

2026.

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