2025 -- H 5790

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LC001691

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $90,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND EXECUTIVE

OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SUPPORT PHYSICIAN

REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASES IN THE RHODE ISLAND MEDICAID PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Corvese, Read, Azzinaro, Casimiro, Bennett,
Spears, Casey, Hopkins, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, Adequate reimbursement for physicians and advanced practice providers is

critical to ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services for all Rhode Islanders; and

     WHEREAS, More than half of Rhode Island voters report facing at least one healthcare

access challenge in the past year; and

     WHEREAS, More than one third of Rhode Island voters had difficulty scheduling an

appointment with a specialist in the past year; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island faces significant challenges in recruiting and retaining

physicians and advanced practice providers including, but not limited to, primary care providers,

pediatricians, and nurse practitioners, due to uncompetitive reimbursement rates; and

     WHEREAS, Investment in increased physician reimbursement rates will enhance access

to healthcare services, improve health outcomes, and reduce long-term healthcare costs by

preventing avoidable hospitalizations and emergency room visits; and

     WHEREAS, A targeted appropriation of the State’s general revenue funds will support

Rhode Island’s healthcare infrastructure and workforce sustainability; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, from the general revenue of the State of

Rhode Island for fiscal year 2025-2026, the sum of ninety million dollars ($90,000,000) to be

invested in increasing reimbursement rates for all physicians and advanced practice providers

including, but not limited to, primary care providers, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and other

advanced practice providers; and the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human

Services shall administer the appropriation and oversee the disbursement of funds to ensure that

reimbursement rate adjustments are effectively implemented across Medicaid and other

applicable State-funded healthcare programs.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $90,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND EXECUTIVE

OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SUPPORT PHYSICIAN

REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASES IN THE RHODE ISLAND MEDICAID PROGRAM

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $90,000,000 to the

Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services to be invested in increasing

reimbursement rates for all physicians and advanced practice providers.

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LC001691

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