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5/6/2025
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Senate passes DiMario bill to continue funding Psychiatry Resource Network
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 STATE HOUSE — The Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Alana M. DiMario that would provide a stable funding mechanism for a psychiatric resource network for providers treating children and new parents.
The Rhode Island Psychiatry Resource Network (PRN) is a statewide teleconsultation resource for medical providers composed of two programs: RI MomsPRN, which serves providers treating pregnant and postpartum patients, and PediPRN, which serves primary care providers treating children and adolescents. Both programs provide medical professionals with access to consultations with licensed mental health professionals to assist them in treating the mental health concerns of their patients.
Senator DiMario, who has worked with new mothers as an outpatient mental health provider for over a decade, said that new mothers facing postpartum mental health difficulties face numerous challenges reaching out to a psychiatrist, including finding a psychiatrist who accepts their insurance and is taking new patients, opening up to a total stranger during a difficult time and the challenge of fitting in a new appointment while caring for a newborn.
“Once the MomsPRN program launched in 2016, it meant that a postpartum person seeing their trusted provider could leave from that first appointment with resources for therapy as well as a prescription that could start providing immediate relief,” said Senator DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham). “The launching of this program was like a light turning on for so many women who previously were sitting alone in the dark.”
PediPRN, which launched in Rhode Island in 2019, works similarly for parents with children who are struggling, allowing them to access psychiatric support through their trusted pediatrician instead having to start from scratch finding a psychiatric provider who treats children and accepts their insurance.
These PRN programs were funded by federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration, which expired at the end of 2024. Last year Senator DiMario sponsored legislation (2024-S 2072A, 2024-H 7204A) that funded these programs through June 30, 2025.
This year’s bill (2025-S 0220A) would provide a sustainable funding source to keep PRN running by adding a dedicated account to Rhode Island’s existing health care services funding plan, which is funded by an assessment on private insurers operating in Rhode Island. Annual funding adjustments would be managed by the Rhode Island Department of Health alongside a PRN advisory committee.
“The MomsPRN and PediPRN programs are programs that work and are available in most other states,” said Leanne Barrett, director of early childhood policy and strategy at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. “We are happy the Rhode Island programs were sustained for FY25 and are eager to see them made permanent. These programs help pediatricians, family physicians and obstetricians access mental health care for their patients efficiently and effectively. They also save money by helping children and moms get the mental health care they need before it becomes a crisis requiring expensive ER visits or hospitalizations.”
The bill now heads to the House for consideration where Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (D-Dist. 46, Lincoln, Pawtucket) has introduced companion legislation (2025-H 5461).
Senator DiMario expressed her happiness that the Senate passed this legislation during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 5 through May 11 this year. The Health Resources and Services Administration administers a national Maternal Mental Health Hotline, which is a free and confidential service offering 24/7 support via call or text to new and expecting moms and their loved ones at 1-833-TLC-MAMA. The hotline’s trained counselors have helped thousands of women and their families needing emotional support during or after pregnancy.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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