H 8268

2026 -- H 8268
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LC006051
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  STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
  FUNDING PLAN ACT
  Introduced By: Representatives Shallcross Smith, Casimiro, Giraldo, Fellela, Tanzi,
  Fogarty, Bennett, Ajello, Boylan, and Carson
  Date Introduced: March 11, 2026
  Referred To: House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 42-7.4-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-7.4 entitled "The
2 Healthcare Services Funding Plan Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
342-7.4-3. Imposition of healthcare services funding contribution.
4(a) Each insurer is required to pay the healthcare services funding contribution for each
5 contribution enrollee of the insurer at the time the contribution is calculated and paid, at the rate set
6 forth in this section.
7(1) Beginning January 1, 2016, the secretary shall set the healthcare services funding
8 contribution each fiscal year in an amount equal to: (i) The child immunization funding requirement
9 described in § 23-1-46; plus (ii) The adult immunization funding requirement described in § 23-1-
10 46; plus (iii) The children’s health services funding requirement described in § 42-12-29; and all
11 as divided by (iv) The number of contribution enrollees of all insurers.
12(2) The contribution set forth herein shall be in addition to any other fees or assessments
13 upon the insurer allowable by law.
14(b) The contribution shall be paid by the insurer; provided, however, a person providing
15 health benefits coverage on a self-insurance basis that uses the services of a third-party
16 administrator shall not be required to make a contribution for a contribution enrollee where the
17 contribution on that enrollee has been or will be made by the third-party administrator.
18(c) Beginning calendar year 2026, in addition to the assessment collection pursuant to
1 subsection (a), there shall be an additional amount assessed pursuant to (i) and (ii), to support
2 primary care and other critical healthcare programs, including both the MomsPRN and PediPRN
3 teleconsultation lines, as described in § 23-1-46.1, totaling thirty million dollars ($30,000,000),
4 which shall be deposited as general revenues.
5SECTION 2. Section 23-1-46.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department
6 of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:
723-1-46.1. Psychiatry resource network account Psychiatry resource network
8 programs. [See Compiler’s Note.]
9(a) There is created within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as the
10 “PRN account.” All money in the account shall be utilized by the The department of health shall
11 manage any and all funds available to effectuate coverage for the following services: Existing
12 Rhode Island lines including the PediPRN and MomsPRN teleconsultation information lines
13 together with any additional information line, referral service, or hotline which is are available to
14 support pediatric, primary care, perinatal, and other service providers or residents in the state in
15 providing appropriate and timely mental healthcare and referrals to children, perinatal patients, and
16 mothers with mental health concerns., and which is funded pursuant to regulation adopted by the
17 director of the department of health. Amounts collected pursuant to § 42-7.4-3(a)(1)(iv) shall be
18 deposited in the “PRN account.” The funds shall be used solely for the purposes of the “PRN
19 account,” and no other.
20(b) Each year’s psychiatry resource network funding requirement in § 42-7.4-3(a)(1)(iv)
21 shall be the amount:
22(1) Projected by the department of health for the services in subsection (a) of this section;
23 plus
24(2) A ten percent (10%) contingency for unexpected expenses; and after
25(3) Deduction for any projected carryover of excess funds from prior assessments.
26(c) The department of health shall submit to the general assembly an annual report on the
27 program and costs related to the program, on or before February 1 of each year. The department
28 shall make available to each insurer required to make a contribution pursuant to § 42-7.4-3, upon
29 its request, detailed information regarding the programs described in subsection (a) of this section
30 and the costs related to those programs.
31(d)(b) The “PRN account program” shall be exempt from the indirect costs recovery
32 provisions of § 35-4-27.
33SECTION 3. Chapter 23-13 of the General Laws entitled "Maternal and Child Health
34 Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs" is hereby amended by adding thereto the
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1 following section:
223-13-27. Psychiatry resource network programs.
3(a) Subject to appropriation, with sources including, but not limited to, § 42-7.4-3, the
4 department shall operate statewide the psychiatry resource network programs: PediPRN and
5 MomsPRN. These statewide psychiatry resource network programs expand Rhode Island's
6 behavioral health and substance use capacity by providing workforce development and psychiatric
7 consultation to primary and specialty care providers, including community-based health
8 professionals.
9(b) The “PRN program” shall be exempt from the indirect costs recovery provisions of §
10 35-4-27.
11SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
    RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
  FUNDING PLAN ACT
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1This act would include both the MomsPRN and PediPRN teleconsultation lines in the
2 healthcare services funding contributions payable by health insurers.
3This act would take effect upon passage.
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