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5/21/2026
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Senate passes Murray bill to address ‘hospital dumping’
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray to address a gap in Medicaid that can leave nursing home patients with complex needs stranded in hospitals.
The joint resolution is part of the Senate’s 17-bill package of healthcare legislation centered on supporting Rhode Islanders in crisis, protecting patients and providers and strengthening the state’s health workforce.
The resolution (2026-S 3056) authorizes the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to pursue an amended Medicaid waiver updating a per-diem add-on rate for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for patients with complex behavioral health needs.
Senator Murray, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, introduced the legislation to address a situation sometimes referred to as “hospital dumping,” when a long-term care facility refuses to accept a patient who was living there before a hospitalization when they are ready to be discharged. Such patients sometimes languish in hospitals for weeks or months because the hospital cannot discharge them to a more appropriate setting.
One common reason a long-term care facility might refuse to take back a patient or resident is a lack of resources to handle those with greater needs, such as behavioral challenges associated with dementia.
The General Assembly authorized a Medicaid waiver in 2021 to pay enhanced rates for patients with complex behavioral health needs, but restrictions in the authorization, such as a requirement that a patient be in a hospital setting for at least six months, often prevent nursing homes from actually being able to access the funds. Chairwoman Murray’s legislation seeks to amend the waiver to remove those roadblocks so facilities can access the enhanced rate.
"Addressing existing barriers by amending the current waiver will help Rhode Island adhere to the nationally recognized best practices that state that every patient should be in the least-restrictive environment possible. Rates that better reflect the more significant care required for a patient with greater needs will help them find a comfortable setting with the right level of care,” said Chairwoman Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield). “Helping people get out of hospitals and into appropriate care will also save the state money and free up hospital resources that are meant for acute care, not long-term living.”
The resolution authorizes the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to implement waiver amendments, state plan amendments and changes to department rules and regulations to effect the changes.
It now goes to the House, where Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket) is sponsoring companion legislation (2026-H 8205).
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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