2026 -- S 3346

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LC006531

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE

STUDY OF RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING

AND RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS

     Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Lawson, Kallman, Vargas, Valverde, DiMario, Murray,
and Urso

     Date Introduced: June 04, 2026

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Nationally the demand for primary care providers continues to increase;

however, nearly one-third of Americans do not have a primary care provider; and

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

resulting in the use of emergency rooms and urgent care facilities to meet their medical needs;

and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has a limited medical education infrastructure which

contributes to low rates of provider retention; and

     WHEREAS, Workforce retention challenges among primary care physicians, nurse

practitioners, and physician assistants in Rhode Island signal the importance of coordinated

investments in payment, team-based infrastructure, and opportunities for advancement; and

     WHEREAS, Despite graduating one hundred and six primary care residents on average

in Rhode Island each year, only fifteen graduates plan to stay in state; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island must look toward prioritizing primary care workforce

retention and graduate medical education programs for the next generation of primary care

residents; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of fifteen (15) members: four (4) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Dean of the

University of Rhode Island School of Medicine, or designee; one of whom shall be the Dean of

the Brown University School of Medicine, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the

Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Rhode Island; or designee; one of whom shall be the President of

the Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants, or designee; one of whom shall be President

of the Rhode Island Pharmacist Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive

Director of the Rhode Island Medical Society; or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive

Director of the Care Transformation Collaborative Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall

be a representative from the community health centers, to be appointed by the President of the

Senate; one of whom shall be a representative of community nonprofits, to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of persons with community

expertise in primary care, to 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 providers,

including, but not limited to:

     • Studying and developing recommendations for establishing and financing sufficient

primary care graduate medical education resources in the state, leveraging the state’s well-

established community health center network;

     • An annual report on Rhode Islanders’ access to a usual source of care, the number

and distribution of primary care clinicians practicing in the state, the numbers entering and

leaving practice in the state, and recommendations to ensure all Rhode Islanders report having

access to a usual source of care; and

     • An annual report on the status of Rhode Island’s primary care institutional and

clinical education resources and the programs supporting these students financially.

     Forthwith upon passage of this 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.

     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 Commission may be allotted annual budget resources to complete these functions.

     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 be ongoing with recommendations

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submitted annually to the President of the Senate.

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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 LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE

STUDY OF RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING

AND RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS

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     This resolution would create a special legislative commission consisting of fifteen (15)

members whose purpose it would be to study Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce related to

educating and retaining primary care providers and who would report back annually to the

President of the Senate.

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LC006531

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