2014 – H 8076
Enacted 04/29/14
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
Introduced By: Representatives Casey, DeSimone, Mattiello, Newberry, and Morin
Date Introduced: April 29, 2014
WHEREAS, Prime Healthcare Services purchased the Landmark Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island in December of 2013; and
WHEREAS, Currently, United Healthcare is negotiating a new contract with Prime Healthcare and Landmark concerning payments for services incurred by those persons insured under United; and
WHEREAS, The Landmark Medical Center serves residents of northern Rhode Island communities and in 2013, had approximately 21,000 visits from 8,100 United subscribers, resulting in revenue of approximately $22 million for Landmark; and
WHEREAS, Landmark has not had an increase in payments from United since 2010, and is paid the lowest amount for medical services of any hospital in this state; and
WHEREAS, The United Healthcare insurance company is also currently negotiating a new contract with the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH) for medical services to various state employees. The current proposal, offered by United, would result in the elimination of Landmark Medical Center from the provider's network and the loss of services from 52 physicians in the northern part of the state; and
WHEREAS, The financial impact from the loss of United revenue to Landmark would be catastrophic to both the Center and the community and the reduction in accessibility of healthcare and the severance of long-standing patient-doctor relationships for local area residents is unconscionable; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Department of Health to reject any United proposal that does not include provisions for medical services rendered through Landmark Medical Center; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Governor Lincoln Chafee and Michael Fine, MD, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.
========
LC005540
========