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6/23/2025
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Senate highlights passage of health care legislation
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STATE HOUSE – As part of the Senate’s ongoing work to address health care access and affordability in Rhode Island, several pieces of legislation were approved in the General Assembly during the recently concluded session.
In February, for the second consecutive year, the Senate unveiled a package of legislation to support patients and providers affected by the state’s health care crisis. Many of those bills have been sent to the Governor’s desk, while one of the top Senate priorities – a Medicaid rate review for primary care providers – has been addressed through the approved fiscal 2026 state budget. Lawmakers have bolstered primary care by adding more than $40 million – $15 million in state funding, the rest from federal sources – toward Medicaid rate increases for primary care providers, which lag behind those in surrounding states. They have also added a primary care rate review to be performed by the Office of the Healthcare Insurance Commissioner by September, 2026.
“The bills approved in the 2025 session represent key parts of the Senate’s action on health care, but many of our colleagues continue to do extremely important work in this policy area. Solving Rhode Island’s health care crisis cannot be done through a single piece of legislation, or by one collection of bills. We will continue to rely on the energy, expertise, and leadership of every member of our chamber as we work collaboratively to take on our health care challenges,” said Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Chairwoman Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield).
“Health care needs to be available and affordable for every Rhode Islander, always,” said Senate President Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence). “But right now, for too many individuals and families, that’s simply not the reality. Primary care providers are strained beyond their limits, and many patients in need of a doctor can’t find one. Navigating our prescription drug system, or getting insurance approval for a needed procedure or medication, can be a time-consuming headache, for both providers and patients. These are just some of the serious problems we face. Our constituents need us to act, and I know my Senate colleagues are fully committed to finding solutions that make a real difference. We will continue to explore every avenue, and all available tools, to ease this health care crisis.”
The Senate health care legislation approved in the 2025 session and sent to the Governor for consideration includes:
Eliminating prior authorization (Sponsored by Chairwoman Murray, 2025-S 0168B): This legislation would prohibit insurers from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary health care services as determined by a primary care provider during a three-year pilot period. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives (2025-H 5120A) was sponsored by Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston).
Medigap (Sponsored by Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, 2025-S 0610B): This legislation, submitted on behalf of the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, provides several new protections related to Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, and would also align Rhode Island’s Medicare supplement market with other states in the region. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives (2025-H 5494A), was sponsored by Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown).
Medical debt interest rate cap (Sponsored by Sen. John P. Burke, 2025-S 0172A): This bill would cap the interest rate on new medical debt at the interest rate equal to the weekly average one-week constant maturity Treasury yield, but not less than 1.5 percent annum nor more than 4 percent annum, as published by the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve System. The interest rate would also be extended to judgments on medical debt. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives (2025-H 5235A) was sponsored by Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (D-Dist. 46, Lincoln, Pawtucket).
Prohibition on medical debt attachments (Sponsored by Sen. Jacob E. Bissaillon, 2025-S 0169A): This bill would prohibit the attachment of a lien to an individual’s home because of medical debt. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives (2025-H 5184A) was sponsored by Rep. Shallcross Smith.
Issuance of medical licenses (Sponsored by Sen. Peter A. Appollonio Jr., 2025-S 0170A): To address licensing backlogs, this bill would grant the director of the Department of Health the authority to approve or deny any applications for professional licensure pending before certain boards of licensure that have been unable to establish a quorum for 30 business days. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives (2025-H 6384) was sponsored by Rep. Matthew S. Dawson (D-65, East Providence).
Administration of vaccines (Sponsored by Sen. Robert Britto, 2025-S 0166B): This bill would clarify state law to enable pharmacists to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations to patients over the age of 3.
For more information, contact:
Greg Pare, Director of Communications for the Senate
State House Room 112
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 276-5558
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