2025 -- H 5775

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LC001433

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Potter, Morales, Slater, Kazarian, and Cruz

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws entitled "Medical Assistance" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     40-8-33. Coverage for nutritional and other assistance.

     (a) The executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) shall establish a one-year

pilot program for evidenced-based nutritional assistance and medically tailored meals, groceries

and produce prescriptions to include, but not be limited to, fruit and vegetable prescriptions or

vouchers provided by medical professionals for individuals with diet-related diseases or food

insecurity, clinical nutrition education, and other interventions for certain beneficiaries where there

is a clinical need. This program shall seek to receive expanded authority to provide these services

when medically appropriate.

     (b) The services established in subsection (a) of this section shall be available to individuals

with three (3) or more chronic, diet-related health conditions, for a period of up to six (6) months.

There shall be two (2) randomized cohorts of participants, and each cohort shall have a minimum

of one hundred and forty-two (142) participants. The first cohort shall receive the services

established in subsection (a) of this section for six (6) months total, and at the end of the six (6)

months the first cohort shall end services and then the second cohort shall begin to receive the

services established in subsection (a) of this section for six (6) months total.

     (c) Dependent on funding availability, the state may provide additional grocery support for

other members of the covered individual’s household.

     (d) The EOHHS shall ensure that federal financial participation is used to the maximum

extent allowable to provide coverage pursuant to this section, and that state-only funds shall be

used only if federal financial participation is not available. To the extent the EOHHS determines it

necessary to implement the provisions of this section, the EOHHS is authorized to pursue a

Medicaid § 1115 (42 U.S.C. § 1315) demonstration waiver request and renewal to seek a waiver of

the compliance provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a) ("definitions")

     (e) The EOHHS shall prepare a report and submit it to the general assembly three (3)

months after the conclusion of the pilot program. The report shall include health outcomes, cost-

effectiveness, impacts on food insecurity, and other individual or household benefits, as well as a

fiscal analysis and a recommendation outlining the benefits and costs of expanding the pilot

program throughout the state. This section shall sunset and the pilot program shall expire July 1,

2027.

     (f) The general assembly shall include the amount of one million five hundred thousand

dollars ($1,500,000) in general revenue funding in the fiscal year 2026 appropriation to the EOHHS

for the pilot program set forth in this section. Any unexpended funds at the end of the fiscal year

shall be reappropriated to the ensuing fiscal year and made available for the same program.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset and expire on July 1,

2027.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

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     This act would require the general assembly to include one million five hundred thousand

dollars ($1,500,000) in FY 26 appropriations to the EOHHS to establish a one-year pilot program

for evidenced-based nutritional assistance and medically tailored meals, groceries and produce for

people with diet-related diseases or food insecurity, clinical nutrition education, and other

interventions where there is a clinical need. The services would be available to individuals with

three (3) or more chronic, diet-related health conditions, for up to six (6) months.

     This act would take effect upon passage and would sunset and expire on July 1, 2027.

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