PROVIDENCE, RI – During an event in Cranston on Aug 16th, Governor Dan McKee ceremonially signed seven bills into law as part of a health care package aimed at improving outcomes, increasing access, and protecting patients across Rhode Island. 

“This comprehensive legislative package speaks to the commitment Rhode Island is making to improve health outcomes, strengthen our health care workforce, and protect patients,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I thank all legislative sponsors for their dedication to making the lives of Rhode Islanders easier and healthier.” 

“Strengthening our health care system has never been more urgent, and action is essential to ensure that quality care is accessible and affordable for all Rhode Islanders,” said Senator Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence). “As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, I am grateful to the Senate’s leadership, our partners in government, the many staff members and stakeholders who support and inform our work, and my Senate colleagues for their efforts to advance this important initiative.” 

“In my work as a primary care nurse practitioner, it has become increasingly clear the many ways in which our state’s health care system is struggling,” said Senator Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence). “Through the legislation being celebrated on Aug 16th, we are taking critical steps to increase provider availability and care quality, contain costs, and protect consumers. As a health care professional, a legislator, and a Rhode Islander, I deeply appreciate everyone’s support and hard work to improve care in our state.” 

“I’m proud of the work we’ve been doing in the legislature to identify safe, workable changes that better enable Rhode Islanders to access health care. Although the details often get complicated, the focus is simple: Getting Rhode Islanders affordable access to the care they need. The bills we’re celebrating today do exactly that: enabling people access to more health care providers, making it easier for patients to see exactly what they’re being charged for at the hospital, and helping to protect people from financial ruin brought on by high medical expenses,” said House Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth). 

“Interstate compacts have become an important tool for the medical profession. There is a great need for health services in Rhode Island, just as there is in every state, and these bills will help everyone who is having difficulty right now in finding services. These interstate compacts will allow Rhode Islanders to utilize several options, such as telehealth, to access the care that they need,” said Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston). 

The legislative package signed by Governor McKee includes:

Prohibiting medical debt reporting to credit bureaus (7103A [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]/2709A [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]): Sponsored by Senator Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) and Representative Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (D-Dist. 46, Lincoln, Pawtucket), this bill prohibits hospitals and other medical providers from reporting an individual’s medical debt to consumer reporting agencies/credit bureaus. The legislation also puts in place rules for communicating with consumers, false and misleading representation by debt collectors, and a prohibition against collections during insurance appeals. 

Increasing access to mental health support (7350A [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net] /2184A [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]): Sponsored by Senator Alana DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Representative Justine Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), this bill makes Rhode Island a founding state in the Interstate Social Work Licensure Compact which will help increase access to mental health support for Rhode Island residents and increase employment options for social workers.

Increasing access to professional counseling (7141 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]/2183 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]): Sponsored by Senator Matthew LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) and Representative Kathy Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown), this bill allows Rhode Island to participate in an Interstate Counseling Compact with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses. This act would further provide for the uniformity of professional counseling license requirements throughout the United States to promote public safety and public health benefits and eliminate the necessity to maintain licenses to practice in multiple states.

Increasing access to audiology and speech-language pathology services (8219 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]/2173 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]): Sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) and Representative Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), this bill allows Rhode Island to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact and creates a commission to administer the provisions in the compact between the states. 

Increasing access to occupational therapy (7945A [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net] [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]/2623A [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]): Sponsored by Senator Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) and Representative Joseph McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Cranston, Warwick), this bill allows Rhode Island to join the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, which has been adopted by 27 states. Joining this compact enables licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to practice in all member states, removing the need for practitioners to get an individual license in each state where they want to practice.

Enhancing the health care workforce (7826 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]/2083 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]) Sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Valarie Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) and Representative Stephen Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), this bill allows a nurse to be exempt from certain licensing requirements before taking and receiving results of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). 

Protecting patients: (2086 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]/7365 [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]): Sponsored by Senator Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) and Representative Caldwell, this bill protects patients by ending a practice called “white bagging” where insurers require patients to get their prescriptions from insurer-affiliated pharmacies that are often mail order-only. With this bill, patients now have the right to select a pharmacy of their choice.

"We know that when people are healthy, they have the potential to live happier and fuller lives," said Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Charest. "This bill package will ensure we bolster our health workforce, expand services, and, overall, make healthcare in Rhode Island more accessible to those who need it. I'm grateful to the General Assembly and the Governor for making the health of our residents a top priority and delivering legislation that reflects that."