| R 350 |
| 2022 -- H 7562 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/02/2022 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PROSPECTIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN PATIENTS' ACCESSIBILITY TO MEDICAL CARE FROM LICENSED NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS |
Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Phillips, Price, Barros, Solomon, and Cassar |
| Date Introduced: February 18, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, Naturopathic medicine is used for a wide range of health issues and practice |
| in settings ranging from private clinics to integrative medical centers, urgent care clinics and |
| hospitals; and |
| WHEREAS, Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary care providers who diagnose, |
| treat and manage patients with acute and chronic conditions; and |
| WHEREAS, Naturopathic medicine utilizes diverse techniques which includes modern |
| and traditional, scientific and empirical methods, addressing disease and dysfunction at the level |
| of body, mind and spirit; and |
| WHEREAS, Naturopathic physicians are often successful at treating chronic conditions |
| that don't respond to conventional medicine; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of thirteen (13) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island |
| House of Representatives, not more than four (4) from the same political party, to be appointed |
| by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Health Insurance |
| Commissioner, or designee; one of whom shall be the Managing Director of Blue Cross Blue |
| Shield of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Officer of United |
| Healthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of |
| the Rhode Island Association of Naturopathic Physicians, or designee; one of whom shall be a |
| Naturopathic Physician practicing in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; |
| one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the Lifespan board of directors, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health (RIDOH), or designee; and one of whom |
| shall be the President and CEO of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, or designee. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study |
| commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing |
| authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide |
| recommendations for a prospective pathway to making patients' treatment accessibility with |
| naturopathic physicians more affordable through inclusion in HMO networks. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the |
| legislators. |
| 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 Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters |
| for said commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| House of Representatives no later than April 20, 2023, and said commission shall expire on July |
| 20, 2023. |
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| LC004865/SUB A/2 |
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