2026 -- H 8308 | |
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LC006084 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRIMARY CARE CONTRACTING GOOD FAITH ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Place, Hopkins, Cotter, Santucci, Shanley, Noret, | |
Date Introduced: March 18, 2026 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 27 of the General Laws entitled "INSURANCE" is hereby amended by |
2 | adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 84 |
4 | PRIMARY CARE CONTRACTING GOOD FAITH ACT |
5 | 27-84-1. Short title. |
6 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Primary Care Contracting Good Faith |
7 | Act." |
8 | 27-84-2. Mandatory good-faith negotiations. |
9 | (a) As used in this chapter, the term "payer" means and includes commercial insurers, |
10 | managed care organizations, and Medicare advantage plans. |
11 | (b) Every payer shall negotiate in good faith with any primary care physician practice at |
12 | least once every twenty-four (24) months. Negotiations shall explicitly consider increases in |
13 | operating costs, inflation, staff wages, malpractice premiums, and other overhead factors. |
14 | 27-84-3. Prohibition on discriminatory refusals. |
15 | A payer shall not refuse to negotiate or enter/renew a contract solely based on the practice’s |
16 | size, ownership structure, patient panel size, or Medicaid volume. |
17 | 27-84-4. Enforcement. |
18 | The office of the health insurance commissioner (“OHIC”) shall maintain a negotiation |
19 | request log and issue annual summary reports. Complaints shall be reviewed under existing OHIC |
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1 | authority. |
2 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect ninety (90) days after passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRIMARY CARE CONTRACTING GOOD FAITH ACT | |
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1 | This act would enact the primary care contracting good faith act. It would require every |
2 | commercial insurer, managed care organization, and Medicare advantage plan to negotiate in good |
3 | faith with any primary care physician practice at least once every twenty-four (24) months. |
4 | Negotiations would explicitly consider increases in operating costs, inflation, staff wages, |
5 | malpractice premiums, and other overhead factors. |
6 | This act would take effect ninety (90) days after passage. |
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