R 139

2015 -- S 0552 Enacted 03/19/2015

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO EXAMINE THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller

Date Introduced: March 03, 2015

WHEREAS, Too many Rhode Islanders confront substance use disorders. The struggles

of these Rhode Islanders involve their families and impact entire communities throughout the

state; and

WHEREAS, A cadre of behavioral health professionals who work in centers, public

facilities, and private offices offer screening and prevention services, as well as treatment for

substance use disorders. In addition to the range of emerging behavioral health practices that

these professionals have to master, they also confront demographic changes in their patient

populations and a transformed compensation system; and

WHEREAS, These changes challenge the state as a whole to take steps to ensure that our

licensed behavioral health professionals are as prepared as possible to provide services, respond

to patient needs, and engage in ongoing training; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human

Services (EOHHS) examine the licensing requirements of behavioral health professionals in

Rhode Island, with particular regard to the impact of anticipated changes in the demographics of

Medicaid enrollees, the need to expand the pool of providers of substance use disorder services in

Rhode Island, and the goal of strengthening and increasing professional and business training to

providers of recovery services in Rhode Island. In conducting this examination, the Secretary of

the Executive Office of Health and Human Services may collaborate with a range of stakeholders

and consider other states’ actions to inform recommendations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that the Secretary of the

Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall submit a report of findings and

recommendations for proposed changes in behavioral health licensing requirements to the

President of the Senate and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on

or before February 4, 2016; 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 the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health

and Human Services, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, and the Director of

the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.

========

LC002005

========