2025 -- S 0698

========

LC001788

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Kallman, Valverde, Euer, Ujifusa, DiMario, Lawson,
Pearson, and Murray

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-17.30-2, 23-17.30-4 and 23-17.30-5 of the General Laws in

Chapter 23-17.30 entitled "Primary Care Training Sites Program" are hereby amended to read as

follows:

     23-17.30-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases are construed as follows:

     (1) “Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care” or “AAAHC” means an

organization that provides ambulatory health care accreditation.

     (1)(2) “Director” means the director of the department of health.

     (2)(3) “Grant” means a sum awarded pursuant to a contract executed pursuant to § 23-

17.30-4.

     (3)(4) “National Committee for Quality Assurance” or “NCQA” means the nonprofit

organization headquartered in the District of Columbia working to improve healthcare quality

through the administration of evidence-based standards, measures, programs, and accreditation.

     (4)(5) “Office” means the office of primary care training established pursuant to the

provisions of § 23-17.30-3.

     (6) “Office of health insurance commissioner” or “OHIC” means the state agency with the

authority to designate patient-centered medical home (PCMH), in accordance with agencies

regulations.

     (5)(7) “Patient-centered medical home” or “PCMH” means a model of health care that puts

patients at the forefront of care by providing team-based healthcare delivery led by a healthcare

provider to render comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients with a goal to obtain

maximal health outcomes.

     (6)(8) “Primary care” means day-to-day health care provided by a healthcare professional.

Typically, the healthcare professional acts as the first contact and principal point of continuing care

for patients within a healthcare system, and coordinates other specialist care that the patient may

require.

     (7)(9) “Primary care site” means a site, location, or medical practice that serves as the

patient’s entry point into the healthcare system and acts as the continuing focal point for all required

healthcare services.

     23-17.30-4. Contracts.

     In compliance with the provisions of § 42-11-11, the director shall have the authority to

enter into contracts, subject to appropriation, for medical education to be conducted at primary care

practice sites. Any contract entered into shall not exceed ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) per

primary care site contract recipient, per calendar year and shall contain, at a minimum, the

following terms, conditions, and provisions:

     (1) The primary care site shall serve as an enhanced interdisciplinary clinical training site;

     (2) The primary care site shall have achieved and shall maintain NCQA PCMH distinction;,

or have achieved and maintained NCQA case management accreditation, or be recognized as a

PCMH by the office of the health insurance commissioner, or other appropriate entity, such as the

joint commission on AAAHC, as determined by the department of health.

     (3) The primary care site shall provide integrated behavioral health services;

     (4) The primary care site shall provide an agreed curriculum of training for physicians,

nurse practitioners, and physician assistants; and

     (5) Training shall include a minimum of up to five (5) hours didactic training and shall

introduce the trainees to the concept of PCMH and how the principles of the model have been

operationalized in the primary care delivery setting.

     23-17.30-5. Rules and regulations.

     The director shall may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of

this chapter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001788

========

LC001788 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM

***

     This act would allow the office of health insurance commissioner (OHIC) as the state

agency that has the authority to designate patient-centered medical home (PCMH) care to obtain

maximal health outcomes. The primary care site would have achieved and maintain NCQA, PCMH

distinction or approval of the joint commission on AAAHC, as determined by the department of

health.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001788

========

LC001788 - Page 3 of 3